Northern Ireland Assembly, 30 November 2020

314 contributions from 53 members. The official report.

Assembly Business

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I wish to inform the Assembly that the Budget (No. 3) Bill has received Royal Assent. The Budget (No. 3) Act (NI) 2020 became law on 25 November 2020. It is chapter 6.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

The first item of business in the Order Paper is a motion regarding Committee membership. As with similar motions, it will be treated as a business motion and there will be no debate.

Resolved:

That Ms Nicola Brogan be appointed as a member of the Committee for Education and as a member of the Committee on Procedures. — [Ms Ennis.]

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I welcome Ms Brogan to the Committees.

Ministerial Statement

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I have received notice from the Minister for Communities that she wishes to make a statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that, in light of social distancing being observed by the parties, the Speaker's ruling that Members must be in the Chamber to hear the statement if they wish to ask a question has been relaxed. Members still need to make sure that their name is on the speaking list if they wish to be called, but they can do that by rising in their place as well as notifying the Business Office or the Speaker's Table directly. I remind Members to be concise in asking their questions.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

With your permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to make a statement regarding the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) Language Body meeting.

The meeting was held virtually on 27 November 2020. The Executive were represented by me, as Minister for Communities, and by Minister Lyons. The Irish Government were represented by Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs and Sport, who also chaired the meeting. This statement has been agreed with Minister Lyons, and I am making it on behalf of both of us.

The meeting dealt with issues relating to the North/South Language Body and its two constituent agencies, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge. The following topics were discussed and decisions were taken where appropriate. As part of their opening remarks, Ministers acknowledged that it would have been preferable for the first NSMC sectoral meeting since June 2016 to have been held in the NSMC secretariat offices in Armagh. However, it was recognised that the meeting was being held remotely in support of the current public health efforts.

Following the opening remarks, Minister Chambers introduced the remaining items for discussion at the meeting. I will begin with the response to COVID-19. Ministers welcomed the continued commitment of all staff and organisations in both jurisdictions who have worked to promote and provide support to the Irish language and Ulster-Scots sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ministers noted the impact of the pandemic on the sector and the measures put in place by both Administrations to prevent the closure of key organisations, stabilise the sector and support longer-term recovery, renewal and change. Ministers noted the productive, ongoing cooperation between both Administrations and the North/South Language Body in relation to supports for Irish language and Ulster-Scots communities facing challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ministers noted that the agencies that comprise the North/South Language Body will continue to work together with both sponsor Departments to consider the impact of withdrawal from the EU. Ministers noted that the body does not anticipate significant impacts on the sector and that the matter will be kept under review at future NSMC meetings in the sector.

The Council noted the progress reports for 2017-2020 that were received from the chief executive officers of the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge, and the key achievements of the North/South Language Body since the last sectoral meeting. Those achievements include the distribution of more than £4 million in grant aid to support Ulster-Scots cultural activities across Ulster; the development of the Discover Ulster-Scots centre in east Donegal and refurbishment of the Monreagh Ulster-Scots Heritage Centre, Carrigans; the publication by Foras na Gaeilge of the online English-Irish dictionary and subsequent launch of the print version, which is being distributed to bookshops; the support provided by Foras na Gaeilge to some 400 organisations annually, through 23 schemes and funding provided to approximately 170 groups under the schemes for young people, some 50 groups supporting festivals and 18 drama companies.

The Council approved the appointment of Daithí Mac Cárthaigh, Dr Neasa Ní Chiaráin and Ola Majekodunmi as board members of the North/South Language Body. The Council agreed to hold its next language body meeting in early 2021.

Paula Bradley (DUP, Belfast North)

I thank the Minister for her statement to the House. The statement talked about the response to COVID-19 for the various sectors. That was very welcome. We know that the £660,000 to the Ulster Scots resilience fund and the £1·2 million to the Irish language fund — I stand corrected if either figure or the date is wrong — is due to close on Wednesday. Has the Minister had any indication of whether those have been oversubscribed? I hope that they have. If so, will she look at putting more money towards both organisations to help anybody who did not receive any?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for her question. The COVID pandemic has been a challenging time for the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge. The figure for the Ulster-Scots Agency is slightly higher — it is £850,000 — and everything is on track. I will be talking to the Ulster-Scots Agency, Conradh na Gaeilge and Ciste na hInfheistíochta. Foras na Gaeilge did not administer the Irish language funding because it said that it could not deliver on time, which would have meant a bigger delay between Ulster Scots getting funds and the Irish language getting its funds. The other two groups were therefore supported by Foras na Gaeilge to deliver. I look forward to getting a report when the applications have closed to see what additional support, if any, they need.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I thank the Minister and the Chairperson of the Committee for Communities.

Sean Lynch (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas. I thank the Minister for her statement. What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on the operation of the North/South Language Body and its ability to continue to support its lead organisation?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

That relates to the question that was asked by the Chair of the Committee, which I have responded to. The numbers that both bodies had in through their premises and, indeed, in some of their groups have obviously decreased. A lot of online and virtual events have taken place, including Irish language classes, musical tuition for the Ulster-Scots Agency and lots more. It has been very challenging, and fair play to both bodies, which have done their best throughout the pandemic and worked very hard to support the groups and the sectors within each body throughout the pandemic. All the feedback that I have received, from groups on the ground during the pandemic, about the work of the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge has been positive. They were heartened to hear that at the meeting on Friday.

Mark Durkan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle agus gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an ráiteas. What consultation has there been with the Irish Government around developing a legislative programme on language development of an Gaeilge?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

That was not discussed at the meeting on Friday. As the Member will appreciate, a lot of the items for discussion were retrospective and related to the recent absence of the Assembly. The Irish and British Governments are sponsors of New Decade, New Approach agreement. We will be bringing forward legislation very soon.

The Member also knows that my Department has responsibility for the Irish language strategy and the strategy for Ulster-Scots culture and heritage. Those panels have been appointed, and they will be brought forward soon.

Rosemary Barton (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

I thank the Minister for her answers so far. Minister, in your statement regarding the language body progress reports, you talk about the distribution of £4 million in grant aid to support Ulster-Scots cultural activities across Ulster. You go on to talk about the support provided by Foras na Gaeilge to 400 organisations in 23 separate schemes, but I see nothing in relation to the finance there. Can you give me some idea of how much that has cost?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

Sorry, I am not clear.

Rosemary Barton (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

How much are you are putting towards that? You talk about the £4 million that went towards the Ulster-Scots culture. How much did the support to the 400 organisations annually through 23 separate schemes etc cost?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I do not have all those details to hand, but I will write to the Member. Just to be clear: the Member asks what each of the groups in Ulster Scots got under that funding. I do not have that information, but I will certainly provide it to the Member.

Rosemary Barton (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Sorry, but I wanted to know about the other one — Foras na Gaeilge; those are the groups that I asked about.

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

No bother. I will get the Member that as well.

Rosemary Barton (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Thank you.

Kellie Armstrong (Alliance, Strangford)

Thank you very much, Minister. You are right to pay tribute to Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency for all their work during COVID and beyond.

You said that the North/South Ministerial Council wants to provide for and promote the Irish language and Ulster Scots. We know that legislation needs to be brought forward for the commissioners for both. Will the Minister confirm how soon that legislation will come forward? Will it be under accelerated passage, or will it just come through as normal?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for her question, but that was not covered as part of the NSMC meeting. The NSMC, last Friday, took a retrospective look at the work of both bodies from 2017 to 2020. Perhaps the Member should ask TEO to answer her question. In my response to Mark Durkan's question about the legislation, I said that I am responsible for the strategies for both. I am working on those and trying to make as much progress as possible, because it is quite clear that legislation is needed to protect both.

Robin Newton (DUP, Belfast East)

I thank the Minister for her statement and answers so far. Was the Northern Ireland centenary and the positive role that both organisations might play discussed? If not, will the Minister place it on the agenda for next meeting?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for his question. It was not discussed. Had it been discussed, it would have been in my statement. I know that Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency are working on a programme for 2021 and beyond, and I have absolutely no doubt that it will be included in their forward work programme.

Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin, South Down)

I thank the Minister for her statement. What measures are in place to ensure public accountability for the funds allocated to the North/South Language Body's agencies to deal with the COVID pandemic?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for her question. There were places that needed to be filled on some of the bodies, and that has been done. They are filling the rest of the places, so that is the accountability. While Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency's chief executive officers report directly to the NSMC sectoral meeting, they are held to account by their board. Once their board membership is completed, that will ensure full scrutiny.

Alex Easton (DUP, North Down)

I thank the Minister for her statement so far. Minister, in your statement you mentioned that:

"Ministers noted the impact of the pandemic on the sector".

Will you outline some of the impacts that were discussed?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for his question. He probably knows from work in his constituency that there were festivals, face-to-face classes, dance and music tuition, work on historical documents, heritage classes, events and seminars that all had to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic. The face-to-face work at least had to be cancelled. As far as was possible, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge did a lot of virtual stuff with groups. An Cultúrlann in west Belfast has lost a lot of money as a result of the restrictions, and other events have been hit financially. I felt that it was important that the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Irish language were supported out of the money for arts, culture and heritage because their financial loss as a result of COVID needed to be reflected in the overall arts, culture and heritage package.

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a ráitis inniu. I thank the Minister for her statement today. Will the Minister tell us when we can expect to see a business plan for 2021 and a corporate plan for the 2020-22 period?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for his question. Early in the new year, if not sooner, corporate and business plans will be brought forward by the bodies. The next sectoral meeting is in the new year, and we will have a full NSMC, so outstanding documents such as those can maybe be brought forth. My information is that, because we had to clear a lot of the retrospective documents, both agencies have been working on their business and corporate plans. I anticipate that those will be almost good to go.

Patsy McGlone (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Mid Ulster)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an ráiteas fosta. An féidir leis an Aire a insint dúinn cén cineál malartaithe tuairimí agus malartaithe taithí atá tosaithe le Rialtas na hÉireann i dtaobh fhorbairt na Gaeilge? Will the Minister tell us what sort of exchanges of information, views and experiences on the development of Irish language legislation there has been with the Irish Government?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for his question. Had the development of the Irish language been part of the NSMC, it would have been in the statement. In response to another question, I know that the Irish and British Governments are, as we speak, fulfilling their NDNA commitments with regard to the funds that are coming forward. My Department has responsibility for the Irish language and Ulster-Scots culture and heritage strategies, and I assure the Member that I am making good progress on them. That is a question that the Member needs to ask TEO. Had it been discussed at the sectoral meeting, it would have been in the statement.

Roy Beggs (UUP, East Antrim)

I thank the Minister for her statement. It refers to Foras na Gaeilge supporting some 400 organisations annually ; 23 separate schemes; 170 groups under the schemes for young people; 50 groups supporting festivals; and 18 drama companies. Can the Minister provide a detailed breakdown showing how all that funding is used and indicate the numbers of organisations, schemes, groups supporting young people, groups supporting festivals and drama companies in the Ulster-Scots community as well those in the Irish language community?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for his question. As it is almost identical to his colleague's, I will give both sets of breakdowns to both Members from the Ulster Unionist Party.

Paul Frew (DUP, North Antrim)

I thank the Minister for her statement. Have the Ministers in either country conducted any detailed impact assessment of how cultural activity and sport have been impacted by lockdowns? Has the Minister identified the long-term damage involved, and has she been able to adapt her strategies to suit?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for his question. Each of us will have looked at the overall impact of COVID-19. That is why I brought forward money for the Ulster-Scots Agency and, indeed, for Conradh na Gaeilge and the Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge. A lot of the work that those groups do, particularly with youth groups, normally happens in halls, so the halls have lost money, the caterers have lost money and the freelances involved in those events have lost money. They are all part of the fabric that makes up Ulster Scots and, indeed, the Irish language. That is why it was critical that, when we were investing money in arts, culture and heritage across the board, those two were not left behind. There has been substantial financial loss, but I want to put it on record that both agencies have gone above and beyond to try to keep, as much as possible, the links to the groups that they have worked with for years and have done their best to keep communication going in very difficult circumstances.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

Thank you, Minister, for your statement. There appear to be four vacant positions on the board of the Ulster-Scots Agency. I think that you touched on it previously, but could you give us some details and timescales for the appointment process to fill those vacancies?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for her question. I expect all those positions to be filled early in the new year and those people to have had their governance training, orientation and everything else before the next NSMC sectoral meeting.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Can the Minister clarify this: is there still an active board in respect of Foras na Gaeilge? I ask that because, according to its website, there has been no board meeting for which minutes have been produced since January 2019 and, indeed, no minutes have been produced in English since 2018. Why is that?

In respect of the assistance given to the Irish language groups to disburse COVID-19 money, can that money be spent outside the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland?

Carál Ní Chuilín (Sinn Féin, Belfast North)

I thank the Member for his questions. They are good questions — not that the Member ever asks questions that are not wonderful. It is a matter of public record, so we need to know why the minutes have not been on the website. I will certainly ask about that.

The COVID-19 money that the Assembly and Executive have given to groups is spent in the North. If the Member is suggesting differently, he needs to bring examples to me.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

That concludes questions on the statement. Members should take their ease for a moment or two before we move to the next item on the Order Paper.

Executive Committee Business

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Members, the next items of business are motions to approve three statutory rules (SRs), all of which relate to the health protection (coronavirus) regulations. There will be a single debate on all three motions. I will ask the Clerk to read the first motion and then call on the Minister to move it. The Minister will then commence the debate on all of the motions that are listed on the Order Paper. When all Members who wish to speak have done so, I shall put the Question on the first motion. The second motion will then be read into the record, and I will call the Minister to move it. The Question will then be put on that motion, and that process will be repeated for the remaining statutory rule. If that is clear, I shall proceed.

Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim)

I beg to move

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved.

The following motions stood in the Order Paper:

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 12) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved. — [Mr Swann (The Minister of Health).]

That the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 be approved. — [Mr Swann (The Minister of Health).]

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

The Business Committee has agreed that there should be no time limit on this debate.

Robin Swann (UUP, North Antrim)

The three sets of regulations before the Assembly make specific amendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) Regulations, but, before I move to the detail of each of the SRs, I must place on record my disappointment that neither the Minister for the Economy nor the Minister of Education agreed to my request for either or both of them to lead on the Assembly's scrutiny of the changes — changes, I might add, that were primarily made only following direct requests from those Ministers on specific and detailed amendments.

Were I not to move the regulations today, they would have fallen, yet, despite their not being my Department's amendments, I suspect that Members will agree that it was important that such an outcome should be avoided. Whilst, in their virtually identical responses to me, both felt that they were not accountable for the regulations, I have already expressed my belief that, during an unprecedented global public health crisis, there should be no space for Ministers or Departments to work in silos. That is why I especially welcomed the previous commitment from the First Minister and deputy First Minister that regulations would be tabled and led in the Assembly by the relevant Minister. Although that was, regrettably, not the case today, I thank the Ministers who have shown or are shortly to show generosity with their time and support, namely the two junior Ministers, the Communities Minister and the Justice Minister.

I will move on to the issues at hand. SRs 232 and 239 amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations in a specific and narrow way. The amendments achieve the following. The amendment No. 11 regulations ensure, first, that the categorisation of tourist accommodation within the restrictions regulations follows the existing formulations in the Tourism (Northern Ireland) Order 1992. That will simply ensure clarity around types of accommodation that were not explicitly set out in the original drafting, such as hostels. Secondly, they ensure that people who rely on a carer are not prevented from taking individual exercise. We have made sure that, where a person needs assistance in entering a swimming pool, for instance, that is not inadvertently restricted. Thirdly, they ensure that the restrictions on the close-contact sector do not extend so far as to prevent make-up and hairdressing for film and television production that is under way during the period of the restrictions.

My Department was made aware of the impact that the restriction would have had on ongoing productions and responded by making the exception on the condition that extensive protective measures were in place. The industry standards are high, and I understand that this has allowed those productions to continue. Fourthly, they ensure that motorhomes are categorised with touring caravans in the regulations, so that, where sites for touring caravans are closed, the same restriction is placed on the sites for motorhomes.

The amendment No 12 regulations ensure that there is no restriction on school physical education as a consequence of the restriction on sports events. That would, clearly, be an inappropriate restriction on children's education and a barrier to schools delivering the curriculum. They ensure that, where tables are set up outside a bar or café, they are treated as part of the premises and are subject to restrictions as much as where there is outside seating. We were made aware of instances of businesses seeking to subvert the intention of the original restrictions by having stand-up tables that would have allowed customers to loiter around the premises as much as if there had been seating and, thereby, undermining the effectiveness of the original restriction.

These may be small matters in themselves, but they are intended to ensure the integrity of the Executive's restrictions and reflect our understanding of the impact that they are having on people. Some of the amendments tighten the restrictions slightly, and others loosen them slightly. In anything that we have done, we have sought to assess the risk — the risk of increased infection associated with loosening restrictions and the risk of serious negative consequences for individuals and the community if legitimate and valuable aspects of life are restricted.

SR 233 amends the wearing of face coverings regulations. The amended regulations were made on 29 October and came into force immediately. Their purpose is to mandate the use of face coverings by post-primary pupils on home-to-school transport and public transport. Previous amendments to face coverings legislation had extended the requirement to use a face covering on all buses, coaches and taxis but not school transport. An exemption existed for children under 13 years of age. The amendments to the regulations has been made so that only children who are not yet at secondary school are now exempt from wearing a face covering on school transport or public transport. The term "junior pupil not yet receiving secondary education" exempts children under 11 years and six months old who are not yet at secondary school from wearing a face covering. The exemptions from medical and other requirements remain unchanged. The regulations were put in place before school resumed on 2 November 2020.

Colm Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle agus gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Thank you, Mr Speaker and my thanks to the Minister for his statement.

The Health Committee was briefed by departmental officials on the three statutory rules on 12 November and agreed to recommend that they be confirmed by the Assembly. With regard to amendments No. 11 and No. 12, to the No. 2 regulations, members raised issues of process, inquired about consultation and alignment between Departments and asked about equality considerations.

On process, the Committee asked officials about the potential, moving forward, for the Department to resume its engagement with the Committee at the stage of policy development, although, clearly, that would be subject to a degree of uncertainty, given the circumstances. No assurance was offered on facilitating better scrutiny, something that remains of concern to the Committee. The number of sets of amendments and the volume of technical amendments were also raised. Officials explained that that results from working at speed to respond to rapidly changing circumstances. We were informed that a cross-departmental working group meets weekly to consider the policy detail resulting from Executive decisions but, given the time constraints, gaps are hard to avoid, although they can be plugged quickly via amending regulations such as we have today. It was suggested to officials that further consideration be given to cross-departmental considerations of policy alignment in the current context. One member cited an example of street furniture being installed during a period of restrictions on hospitality.

The Committee also probed consideration of equality issues in the absence of formal equality impact assessments. Officials advised that the human rights context and the proportionality of restrictions were considered in respect of each statutory rule and that the Department sought to strike a balance between the impact on rights generally and the impact of not imposing restrictions, given the nature of the pandemic. Pressed on the adequacy of the current approach, officials conceded that there was recognition of the need for more granular consideration of equality issues and that how that might be approached was under consideration.

I now turn to the face coverings amendment. Members were advised that the percentage of passengers wearing face coverings on public transport had gone up from 10% to 85% as a result of them becoming mandatory in that setting. On that basis, it was hoped that the rule would also prove effective in extending the requirements to post-primary school children on home-to-school transport and public transport. It was suggested that officials consider the inconsistent messaging in continuing to exempt children from wearing face coverings in retail settings. The rationale offered was that social distancing is more feasible in many retail settings, unlike public transport, but the director of population health undertook to consider the messaging point further with the face coverings working group chaired by the Executive Office.

Officials were also asked about any potential harm deriving from unhygienic practices in the use of face coverings. They advised that, on balance, research showed that there remained a net benefit from the wearing of face coverings.

Agreeing on the evidence in favour of face coverings, members enquired about plans to widen requirements to use face coverings in indoor settings generally and the extent of the Department's research on international experience and best practice, particularly that of south-east Asian countries that have successfully reduced transmission of the disease and where face coverings have been routinely used for some time. The Committee intends to seek a wider briefing on the evidence in the new year.

On foot of questions about the links between sets of regulations, officials confirmed that almost all regulations on face coverings are now separate and will not fall with temporary additional restrictions.

If I may, a Cheann Comhairle, I will say a few words as Sinn Féin spokesperson on health. The statutory rules were made and came into force in late October and early November, with much of the content relating to clarifications, for example, on close-contact services working in TV and film production. The House must take the measures and restrictions seriously, as they impact in many ways on the lives and livelihoods of the public, even if those restrictions are time-limited and subject to change in a few weeks' time.

Two things are vital: communicating a plan, purpose and strategy; and, importantly, putting in place the means to achieve that strategy. I welcome any clarifications that can be made. It is better that they are not needed, but, when they are needed, it is right to get them made and put through.

On achieving the desired outcome, I raise the issue of compliance. We have heard how, with face coverings on public transport, we saw compliance increase to an estimated 85%. I would like that to be further increased where possible, which means enforcement. It also means — this is a crucial point — that we need to ensure that everyone is aware of what is required and, importantly, that there are no barriers to compliance. That, for example, means supporting business with grants, providing workers with statutory sick pay and ensuring that people have masks or something to cover their nose and mouth where needed. When people are struggling financially, we need to consider the cost of masks.

As we enter the winter months, those remain some of the challenges and tests that will not go away. We must work together effectively to meet the challenges in the weeks and months ahead.

Pam Cameron (DUP, South Antrim)

I intend to be fairly brief. At the outset of yet another coronavirus health restrictions debate, I put it on record that my thoughts are with those families who have been bereaved — the number is nearing the 1,000 mark — and very much affected by the pandemic.

Obviously, the restrictions and regulations put barriers in the way of normal everyday life, of the right to work, the right to family life and, indeed, even the right to public worship. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 set out the changes to the places where restrictions will apply and gives additional clarity, including some exemptions, to the restrictions, with the biggest restriction, obviously, to business. It is worth remembering that businesses have bills to pay and food to provide. In recent weeks, many businessespeople across South Antrim have contacted me in utter despair at not being able to pay the bills and feed their families. That is a reality, not an exaggeration. While we can produce restrictions, it appears that we cannot produce money in a timely manner to support those people, of whom we ask so much at this time. It is right that we put on record the sacrifice that they are making. In my book, it certainly is not good enough, and I appeal to the Finance Minister to do more and do it faster.

Sinéad Bradley (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

Will the Member give way?

Pam Cameron (DUP, South Antrim)

I will indeed.

Sinéad Bradley (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I appreciate the Member's words. As an MLA, I am inundated with calls from businesses that genuinely do not know whether they can keep their doors open. Will she be fair and make that call to the Department for the Economy and her party colleague, who absolutely needs to step up quickly?

Pam Cameron (DUP, South Antrim)

I thank the Member for the intervention. Certainly, I welcome the cross-Executive work that is going on, and we ask all Ministers who have responsibility in areas of support to put their shoulder to the wheel.

Once again, there is a great deal of confusion, which has not been helped by the ambiguity in the regulations and their late publication. Businesses that have multiple facets are unsure whether they can open at this time and whether they can sell non-essential goods. On the other hand, businesses that sell entirely so-called non-essential goods are watching their high-street competition selling the same products as they are forbidden to sell.

I welcome the fact that the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 12) Regulations provide for physical education to take place in schools and other educational settings. We know how important that is as part of a child's school day, given that exercise brings physical and mental benefits.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

I thank the Member for giving way. I totally agree with her about the need to focus on children's physical activity to ensure their mental and physical well-being. Does the Member for South Antrim concur with me that it is also important that we look at the adult population's mental and physical well-being in relation to the restrictions? I think particularly of the many thousands of gym attendees across the Province at the moment. For many of them, their only form of exercise is in a gym setting. With the onset of winter, dark nights and, indeed, adverse weather, sometimes, that gym setting is the only way in which they can get physical exercise. Does the Member agree with my call and, indeed, the Committee's call for dialogue between the Minister and the Department and gym businesses and attendees to ensure that we can find physical and mental well-being in the winter months?

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I remind Members to stick to the scope of the regulations in hand this afternoon.

Pam Cameron (DUP, South Antrim)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Member for his intervention. I see his point completely. Certainly, from my view, even while out walking the dogs yesterday, I was very aware that the fairly small path that I took through a forest and down to the lough was very crowded. That is the knock-on impact that the closure of the likes of gyms has created, with cyclists, runners and entire families out doing their best to do something healthy, to get out there and to look after their physical and mental well-being. The closures are certainly having a knock-on impact as well.

We have had these debates on many, many occasions. To be honest, much of this is repetition. Maybe that is because we as a society are in a cyclical crisis. We make progress, and then we regress, but we want to break this cycle and the current lockdown. The restrictions, albeit that they are flawed in many ways, are rightly aimed at driving down the number of cases, saving lives and protecting our health service from being overwhelmed. I very much welcome it that our clinicians are doing their utmost to keep as much of our health service as possible going throughout the second wave of coronavirus. We all must look on the restrictions as an opportunity to do the little bit that we can to support our NHS staff in keeping as much of the health service open and operational as possible. We can all help by restricting our movements. This is another chance for us to do the right thing now. Otherwise, we will be back in that cycle once more.

Amendment No. 3, which refers to the wearing of face coverings, extends the requirement to wear a face covering to post-primary school children on school transport and on other public transport.

I finish, yet again, with an appeal to all to wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance from others, including family who do not live in your house, and cut down on your contacts to protect your friends, your family and your colleagues. That is what we ask of everyone. If we all do that, we can indeed break the cycle.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate. I acknowledge the Minister of Health's insight into the DUP's ministerial version of teamwork, but we all know that a team is only as strong as everybody playing their part. I hope that all Ministers will do what they can to try to help with the workload of responding to COVID.

The three regulations that we are being asked to ratify are those that were laid before the Assembly on Thursday 29 October. I pay tribute to our healthcare staff who continue to fight the invisible enemy in the wards and corridors of our hospitals, in care homes and in houses. I extend my deepest sympathies to families impacted by the passing of loved ones.

Members will be all too familiar with the process by which regulations and amendments are laid in the Assembly. Some of the regulations that we give consideration to today, as we try to wrestle with the decision of whether to agree with them, have actually lapsed. Surely, there must be a better way for us to carry out this business. A better approach would be that, when the amendments are drafted, they are brought to the Chamber for debate and discussion, so that we can interrogate the decisions taken and ask questions about their various impacts, in order that we understand the process and can go back to our constituents with the details of those decisions.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

Will the Member give way on that point?

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

That is not surprising from the Member.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

I thank the Member for giving way. He has passionately articulated that point at the Committee. Does the Member agree that one of the increasingly difficult parts to justify in relation to the delay in regulations coming to the Committee and the House is the fact that, for example, on a Thursday when the Health Committee meets, we have a situation where new regulations will come in on the Friday morning? That results in a communication breakdown as to what should apply and what has previously applied.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I thank the Member for his intervention. To simplify it, I think that there is a better way of doing it. It would not take much to sit down with a blank page and to work out the best process for making sure that we can participate in the decision-making and understand it. If we understand it, we can articulate that to our constituents. How often have Members had a phone call or email about a regulation from a constituent and said, "I do not know the answer to that" and then set about the difficult process of trying to find out that information?

On the regulations themselves, the first of the issues clarifies what was lacking, specifically in regard to self-catering accommodation, indoor exercise, closure of hostels, caravans, clarity on where close-contact services can operate and some restrictions on outdoor seating. The second provides clarity for physical education to take place in an educational setting and clarity on facilities adjacent to hospitality premises. The third legislates that post-primary schoolchildren must wear a face covering on school and public transport.

I place this on the record: what does it say about us that we are legislating for children to wear face coverings, when an MP who sat in this House and was a Minister in the Executive, once upon a time, continues to throw this back in the face of those children, in believing that he is above such practices, whilst taking the money from the parents of those children via their taxes to pay for the face masks that he does not wear properly? I implore his colleagues opposite to get this knocked on the head, even at this late hour, eight months into a world-wide pandemic.

Many changes have been made to the regulations from the ones that we are discussing today. We are in a period of lockdown, with non-essential retail closed and many other elements of daily life restricted. My experience of the most recent regulations is that they have been as unhelpful as past ones. What is non-essential? What is homeware? How much of your produce constitutes "significant"? What about car washes? Are music lessons educational? Are Irish dance classes different —.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

Sorry, could the Member get back to the scope of the regulations? You are straying well beyond those and into the new ones.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, but the regulations —.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am obliged. I would like clarification. We have debated a sequence of these regulations for many successive weeks. On each of those weeks, the Chair, in recognition of the reality that events have moved on, has permitted discussion that brings the matter more up to date. Are you today making a contrary ruling so as to restrict us to regulations, some of which are no longer extant or even relevant?

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

First of all, let me assure the Member that I am fully aware of the rulings on scope and how the Speaker or Deputy Speakers will conduct debates. I am involved in the decision-making for making the call on that, so I am fully aware of the nature of the debate and how it should be conducted.

Very often, Ministers and others have widened the scope of the regulations. That is why we have been giving Members the latitude that is necessary for them to do their best to explore the issues and to allow them robust scrutiny. I am reminding Members to stick to the scope of the regulations that are on the Order Paper today. That is not a new regulation. The Deputy Speakers have tried, on a number of occasions, to bring Members back to the debate at hand.

We give latitude and we will always give latitude to allow Members to do their job of exercising full scrutiny and accountability. By the same token, it is reasonable to keep people within the scope of the regulations, and the Deputy Speakers and I frequently and routinely do that. I hope that that assures the Member.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, and I will, of course, comply with your ruling, but it shows once again the farcical nature of the debate that we must curtail ourselves when the public are suffering from the regulations that have been enacted over last number of weeks. They have questions and concerns about regulations, but we cannot discuss them here in a timely manner.

That is quite sad, because it raises question after question. We are sent an email on regulations to seek out that information, but sometimes it takes days if not weeks before you get an answer. The communication from the Executive Office about restrictions lacks detail and information, and it creates more questions than answers.

The only thing that is certain about the Executive Office's communications on regulations is the eye-watering budget that it has to spend on that communication. The businesses that are impacted make an application for help, and, for some, that application falls into a big, dark hole and they do not see or hear anything about it for weeks, not knowing if they will or will not get financial assistance so that they can comply with the regulations.

People are hurting. The Executive supply financial help, but it appears that not everyone is getting it in a timely manner. The Department for the Economy and its Minister need to pull up their socks and get their part of the COVID response right. People's livelihoods are depending on it.

I continue to accept the need for these regulations and their amendments, even if they have lapsed. The health and well-being of the public at this time remain my number-one priority. While I support the motion, I continue to implore the Health Minister to examine whether there is a different way that we can do these regulations.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

I do not intend to speak for long. All that needs to be said about the regulations that we are talking about today was said at the Committee in a very long, interesting session with departmental officials about the challenges of developing such regulations at speed.

I very much appreciate that what we are discussing today are, in some ways, technical amendments in order to give clarity. I want to pick up and go into greater detail on the point that the Chair of the Committee raised when he talked about a need for greater cooperation across Departments. In my constituency of South Belfast, the Department for Infrastructure introduced what are called parklets outside a coffee shop, where people have seating that they manage and are now using. It is not businesses providing the seating but the Department.

That issue was raised with me in the context that coffee shops down the road that are doing take-away coffees feel a wee bit aggrieved. That initiative speaks to the need for Departments to work together so that anything that is taken forward is about trying to achieve compliance with the public health regulations. I also place on record my appreciation of the fact that the wearing of face coverings has now been extended to all post-primary pupils. It was confusing and difficult for people on trains to decipher who should be wearing them and who should not.

That brings us to the wider chaos that has surrounded the development of the regulations. At the Committee session, it was pointed out that a period is required between the Executive agreeing and announcing new restrictions and the regulations being drafted to put them into effect, and that there is a further period while they are ironed out by further amendments such as Nos. 11 and 12, which we are nominally debating.

I will not say much more, but I want to pick up on a point made by Jonathan Buckley, who joined the Health Committee recently. I am one of those gym goers who try to go every morning, although I probably only make it about four or five mornings a week. Maybe it was just at the gym that I go to, but, last Thursday morning, there was a strong sense that we are closing for only two weeks. They understand, given the capacity of our heath service, the need to get this right so that we do not have a lot of infections over the Christmas period. I have a great deal of sympathy for people who run independent gyms, whose salaries may be affected. However, I think that, amongst gym goers —.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

Will the Member give way?

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

Sure.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

The Member's point is very relevant. I am another one of those gym goers, although it may not show. I have heard from one-on-one trainers and from gym owners that, if they can get financial help in a timely manner, they will comply. It is not an issue of closing; they understand what they have to do. It is about getting the financial help in a timely manner that would help them to do it.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

Absolutely. That goes to the heart of it. They do not want outbreaks in gyms; they do not want anybody who they work with to be affected. They see the benefits —.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

Will the Member give way?

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

Go ahead.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

I do not want to stray, but I have spoken to many gym users. I had correspondence from a nurse who finds that the gym is the only place that she can take care of her mental and physical well-being. I understand where some are coming from, but there are many gym users and gym owners across Northern Ireland —

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

The Member is now straying.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

— for whom it is not financial; it is mental and physical well-being that is the concern.

Paula Bradshaw (Alliance, Belfast South)

I will bring it to a close. I was walking along Loughshore at 6.45 am today and nearly got the head blown off me, so I do understand why it does not suit everybody to go out walking early in the morning.

Lastly, I urge the public to stick to the regulations that have just been brought in. I understand the frustration at the situation and at our politics, but there is no reason for us to introduce such tough measures other than to protect public health and our Health and Social Care system. Instead of seeking loopholes, let us understand one thing: the more closely we stick to the regulations, the sooner we can ease them.

Gary Middleton (DUP, Foyle)

Like others, I pay tribute to our health staff, and to all our front-line workers, for the tireless work that they have been doing, and my thoughts and prayers are with all those who are affected by COVID-19. As others have said, it feels repetitive to be speaking on these issues, given that the restrictions have already been implemented. Nonetheless, it is important that we say a few words on them.

(Mr Principal Deputy Speaker [Mr Stalford] in the Chair)

The Health Minister made a point in his opening remarks about silo mentalities. We need to be mindful that working in silos is not helpful. I have said in the Chamber before that, given how the Executive work, when the Executive take decisions, uncomfortable as those decisions may be for individual Members, including me, it is important that we show a united front when we deliver those messages. However, that also applies to the schemes. I see Members across the Chamber who will trip over themselves to welcome initiatives from the likes of the Economy Minister and then trip over themselves to be the first to criticise. We need to work collectively to ensure that we can deliver the outcomes that we want to see.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I thank the Member for giving way. The Member will appreciate that this is not about anyone tripping over anything. This is about ensuring that those who are most in need receive financial intervention in a timely way to ensure that they can make the best decisions in the interests of the public and of their own businesses.

That is why we are "tripping over" things: to ensure that they get the necessary financial intervention.

Gary Middleton (DUP, Foyle)

I thank the Member for that. I do not disagree, in that what we do —.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

Will the Member give way?

Gary Middleton (DUP, Foyle)

Go ahead.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

The Member will note that, when the previous Member who spoke was on his feet, he was not tripping over himself to defend Belfast International Airport. Until last week, his Minister had not made any intervention there but had rushed to get money to the City of Derry Airport.

Gary Middleton (DUP, Foyle)

I thank the Member for that. The point that we are all trying to get to is that we all want to get the best for our constituents and businesses. We do not want to see the continuing politicisation of a lot of the issues. Point-scoring, Facebook posts, Twitter videos and all that — the public can cut through that stuff. It is important that we support the Ministers, who are trying hard, and particularly the officials, who are doing their best to support those who need to be supported.

Amendment No. 11 brings some welcome clarity to the issues and the regulations. It is fairly self-explanatory.

Amendment No. 12 relates to physical education in educational settings. It was vital that that be rectified, and I welcome the fact that that was pushed forward by the Minister of Education. We know that physical education goes beyond physical exercise and good health: it has a mental health impact for young people.

I want to come on to indoor exercise, which is relevant and has been mentioned. I take issue with the fact that gyms have not been able to operate for that indoor exercise piece for adults. Despite what some Members have said, it is not a financial issue for gym owners. They place the well-being of their customers above the financial incentive that they would have gained from the two weeks. That is a frustration that I have, and the many gym owners who have contacted me are deeply frustrated and very concerned about their customers. Many of them are assisting their customers with recovery from various issues. That is a point that I wanted to —.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

I thank the Member for giving way. I will not labour the point, but many gym users and owners would like to have a conversation about whether there is a way forward that could allow gyms to reopen in a safe and compliant manner to ensure physical and mental well-being.

Gary Middleton (DUP, Foyle)

I agree completely with the Member. As the Minister stated at the outset, the regulations deal with cross-cutting issues. They go across Departments, so it is important that all Departments have a say. It goes back to the restrictions themselves: we need to ensure that the views of all Ministers are taken on board. We know that the Economy Minister has been fighting hard for businesses and to get them reopened in a safe and timely manner, but that is a cross-cutting issue. We need all Executive Ministers to be heard on it.

I go back to the amendment on face coverings. It was important to give clarity, particularly to post-primary pupils, and I know that many principals welcomed that. Concerns were raised at the time about the enforcement of that on buses, for example, and on their way, but there seems to be a level of compliance around that.

It is important that we try to have a consistent approach. As I said, if we allow physical education to take place in schools, which is the right thing to do, we also need to allow for that exercise to take place in indoor and safe settings. I urge that that be allowed to happen. I remind Members that it is important to get out of this endless cycle during the next number of weeks. The way to do that is to adhere to the guidelines and ensure that we keep one another safe.

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. We have been here before and have covered a lot of ground.

I always think that it is important to contextualise why the restrictions are needed. The simple reason is that we need to protect our health and social care system. We cannot allow it to be overwhelmed in the face of the pandemic. Years of underinvestment in the health system have meant that we do not have the capacity that we might like to have to deal with the upsurge in the number of people who become ill as a result of the pandemic. It should never be the case that groups of people with one illness are pitted against groups of people with another illness. The fact is that there are people who are ill and they have to be treated. Unfortunately, clinicians have to make ethical decisions on who should be treated first. However, basically, the restrictions are in place to protect life, to try to reduce the rate of transmission, to protect our front-line workers and to protect society in general.

Drafting legislation is not easy at the best of times, but it is all the more difficult when all this legislation comes at us in haste and we do not have time for the usual scrutiny that would take place. It is inevitable that anomalies will sometimes appear, mistakes will be made and clarification will be needed. However, it is disappointing when some prominent people speak out angrily and, sometimes their language is, maybe, not as diplomatic as it ought to be. If we were using similar language, we would be castigated from the high heavens. Some of those people may be brilliant musicians, fantastic chefs or people who can run great hospitality businesses, but I would love to see their credentials on public health and dealing with pandemics. I say to everyone that we have a difficult job. Some people are more concerned about their own narrow interests, but political leaders have to take account of society in general, the needs of all of our citizens, the need to protect our health service, the need to save people's lives and the need to stop people becoming ill. Those are issues in the context of the restrictions, even today's restrictions, that we need to be cognisant of.

One of the amendments that we are dealing with today is around the issue of masks. I say to the Minister that I have been banging on about the necessity of wearing masks from as far back as late March and early April. The evidence that was mounting, particularly in other countries, and the science that was coming to the fore told us that the wearing of masks reduced transmission, and I am glad to see that we implemented legislation to make it mandatory to wear face masks in certain circumstances. That is good, but there is an issue — my colleague raised it earlier — about the cost of face masks. We have seen that, in many other countries, face masks are free for the population. The Minister should consider making face masks available free of charge, at least in some circumstances.

Another issue that we should all welcome — it has been welcomed by a number of Members — is the clarification around physical education in schools. We came in for some ridicule around the issue of PE in schools when the legislation was first mooted. Clarification was absolutely necessary, and I welcome that. We had a ridiculous situation where fewer students could take part in outdoor physical education than were allowed indoors in the classroom. That issue needed to be rectified, and, thankfully, it was.

I do not intend to go on for much longer today, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle, you will be glad to hear.

However, there are compliance and enforcement issues about these restrictions and restrictions in general. Without wishing to stray off the focus of the amendments, a good example of "compliance" and "enforcement" issues was shown on last week's 'Spotlight' programme about the contact-tracing system in Wales. When contacts were traced by the contact tracers, they were followed up with phone calls. If they did not answer the phone during their period of isolation, contact tracers called to their homes. Essentially, the rationale for calling to their homes was to see whether the person who was isolating needed support. However, I am sure that everyone can easily imagine that there is an element of enforcement there too, because, if the person who was supposed to be isolating was not there, that raised further issues. That is an issue with contact tracing. The Minister knows my views well on that. I will just leave it there rather than drift off further on the issue.

I have one final question for the Minister, to which many people out there need to know the answer: when will the Executive announce what the situation will look like post 11 December? I advise the Executive that, rather than leave it to the last minute, and us all end up on the cliff edge as we did during the past number of weeks, an announcement should be made here today about what the situation will look like after 11 December.

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Before I talk about the amendments and restrictions, I, like others, want to send my heartfelt sympathy to the loved ones of all those who have died of COVID on the island of Ireland and, indeed, across the world, and also to the many more people who have ended up in hospital. We know that people are struggling with what is now called "long COVID". We also know of young people in particular who had COVID and thought that they had come through it OK, but now we hear that a pattern may be emerging with some young people ending up with pneumonia and other illnesses.

It is in that context that we all remember that the five parties in the Executive have to make difficult, challenging decisions that impact on our daily lives. They all agreed that more interventions were necessary before the end of November in order to curb the spread of coronavirus and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed. Before COVID, hospitals like Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Derry were already struggling with awful waiting lists and, at times, people being left on trolleys or being taken home by their families rather than having them left there waiting to be seen. It is without doubt that COVID has made a bad situation worse.

The journey to the restrictions in amendment Nos. 11, 12 and 3 was somewhat unedifying. We witnessed the DUP, the largest party in the Executive, use a veto to hinder the majority of the power-sharing Executive, who represent the overwhelming majority of people in the North, from taking that decision forward sooner.

People to whom I have spoken in Derry oscillate when they talk about further restrictions coming in. I am sure that many Members have found the same. There are people who are absolutely fed up after nine months of restrictions after restrictions coming in. When they think that things are moving on, they have to be rolled back. At the other end, I meet people who just say, "I want a total lockdown. Lock us down for three or four months, try to sort this out and see if we can get back to some kind of near normal". They do not want to see any more of their loved ones ending up in hospital. Thousands and thousands more people have ended up in hospital, and, as we said, unfortunately — tragically — many of them ended up in the morgue.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I thank the Member for giving way. Will the Member agree with me that there needs to be a strong, unified message coming from the Assembly and the Executive on the importance of these restrictions? Behind every single number is the death of a loved one. Family members — wives, husbands, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters — have been left heartbroken by this virus. They could not see their loved ones from the time that they entered hospital until they were carried out.

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

I thank the Member for that intervention. I am very conscious of Mr and Mrs Ward from Strabane. That family has been left devastated by the parents' deaths within 12 hours of each other. It is a very sobering thought for us all. How could anyone not come together and have a unified position on these kinds of restrictions? The hope is that the vaccines that have been or are being clinically trialled will receive authorisation and soon become available for us to use safely.

As other Members have said, once again, we find ourselves in the Assembly talking about regulations that are already in place. There is not one Member in the Chamber who is not frustrated at that kind of process, because it is not how we want to do scrutiny. That all goes without saying, but we recognise that we are in the middle of a global pandemic, and things do not move in the way that they should.

Yesterday, 351 people tested positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately, some of them will end up in hospital beds and in intensive care. NISRA confirmed that, within a one-week period, 100 people died, and we all heard that last week. However, some people have questioned the COVID-19 death rate. I mentioned Mr and Mrs Ward in Strabane, and other family members have died within hours of one another. We all should challenge those kinds of questions. Of course, people have the right to question, but the evidence on the number of people who have tragically lost their life is there for us all to use.

We also know from the COVID-19 inequality report that the infection rate in the 10% most deprived areas has been one fifth higher than the rate in the 10% least deprived areas and that the hospital admission rate of patients with COVID-19 in the 10% most deprived areas was almost double the rate in the 10% least deprived areas.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

Will the Member give way?

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Yes.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

On that very point, the Member will understand that there is a lot of scepticism. Indeed, there is anger about the side effects of lockdown. Professor Jack Lambert, the leading infectious diseases expert in the Republic, who leads an Irish doctors' group, presented a "white paper" to the Government. It states:

"It is concerning that a single-minded fixation on lockdowns and Covid-19 persists ... to the exclusion of too many of the other crucial facets of population health and wellbeing."

Another doctor in the group stated:

"Lockdowns as we have seen from the analyses severe [sic] nothing other than to punish the most vulnerable in society".

While we have learnt a lot about COVID-19, its effects and how to treat it, we must move on in how we respond to that. Lockdowns are not always the simple answer. The House must take their significant side effects into account.

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Of course, we must take all of that into account. We all have people in our family settings who are struggling with lockdown, but poverty is not new, inequality is not new and vulnerable people are not new. We know that we have to have greater interventions. When we look at the inequality report, we can see how the 10% most deprived areas have been affected. Why do we have to tackle regional equalities? Why do we need an anti-poverty strategy? Why do we need collective agreement to tackle all of that? So that people can cope a bit better. No one is making a decision to try to keep people away from their civil liberties. I find it quite challenging that we have removed people's civil liberties, but we are doing it because we are in a global pandemic. Of course, it is about getting a balance, and we have to try to get it right.

When we talk about poverty killing people, we know that those on low incomes who work in the high-exposure facilities do not feel like, "We are all in this together", and some of them feel quite offended when they hear some of us say it. If you are a key worker on a low wage who is living in poverty or you are a porter in a hospital or a domiciliary care worker and, thus, are more exposed to catching the virus, you do not feel like we are all in this together.

The chair of the BMA, Dr Black, told us that some hospitals are hanging together by a thread. It is hoped that the amendments and restrictions that we are dealing with today will take the pressures off Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Derry and other hospitals across the North, where we know that hundreds of staff members are off sick or self-isolating, which is putting further pressure on the health service. So, whilst some of the amendments before us, including the amendment No. 3 and No. 11 regulations, are tough, staff in hospitals, who have been on the front line for nine months, are demanding that they be supported.

During debates like this, as MLAs, we raise impacts that COVID and the restrictions have had on people's lives and livelihoods, and we have heard some of that today. The amendment No. 11 regulations clarify what businesses can and cannot open and is already in place. This is not about singling out a Minister, but I want to add my voice to those who have been calling for the Economy Minister to get schemes in place for the newly self-employed and sole traders. Regardless of what constituency you come from, you must all be being lobbied by people who fit into those categories and want to work but are prevented from doing so by restrictions like these. The delays in devising a scheme are unacceptable.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

I thank the Member for giving way. She strikes the right tone when she says that we are all being lobbied about getting grants out to those who in the most need as quickly as possible. However, does she accept that the actions of some in her party in terms of the misuse of public money, when we saw COVID grant money going to non-elected and elected officials within Sinn Féin's constituency offices, have meant that significant checks and balances have had to be applied, which has sadly meant a slowing down in the time to get grants out?

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

I am very conscious of what the Audit Office said in relation to the schemes and the kind of mistakes that were made. We know what happened, and we know that apologies were given for the three Sinn Féin offices that received those grants. I do not know what has happened with the other 450 or so people who received grants by mistake; I assume that all of them have returned the money. The Audit Office says that the percentage of risk was small. There are thousands of businesses and people out there who are desperately looking for and need some help. As we stand here talking about the restrictions, representatives from Excluded NI, which is one campaign of many that I could name, feel like they are howling at the moon, because — this might be uncomfortable for you — almost daily they are calling on Minister Dodds to introduce new schemes for businesses that have been left out and that the Minister herself said have fallen through the cracks, yet they see nothing coming forward.

Given that the Minister has received substantive funding for such schemes from the Finance Minister to implement the amendments that are before us today —.

Christopher Stalford (DUP, Belfast South)

To be fair to her, I appreciate that the Member is responding to a point. However, I am afraid that the debate is now veering away from the regulations. We should try to return to the regulations.

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Amendment No. 11 closed down an awful lot of the hospitality and other sectors. That is why those people are desperately trying to get access to a scheme. They feel that there has been a protracted delay in getting money into the pockets of their workers and their workers' family. Those are the people who are calling on us, as we come forward with restrictions like those in amendment No. 11 and others, to take account of the fact that there are people who have not received a single penny in nine months.

When we are talking about trying to get collective support in the Chamber, we need support for amendment No. 11, amendment No. 12 and amendment No. 3 on face masks from the people outside who are listening to us. We need to demonstrate competence and ability and to show that we can act fast and smart, all within due diligence, and get financial support into the pockets and purses of those who need it the most.

If any Minister is struggling with trying to do that, the Executive should look at giving that Minister a helping hand to see whether that can be brought forward. Life is challenging enough, so in order for the five parties in the Executive to ensure that people get support to live with this deadly virus and these terrible restrictions on people's civil liberties and their life, we need to make sure that the labels of effectiveness and efficiency are the by-products that are worn by all Ministers.

Take amendment No. 11, for instance. The Committee for Infrastructure this morning had an informal meeting with taxi drivers. Once again, taxi drivers lost work overnight, and just as they thought that they were getting things together, along comes amendment No. 11. Further restrictions were put in place, and their customer base is no more. Once again, bars, restaurants and hotels are closed, and that is having a knock-on effect on taxi drivers, who, like other people, want to work, but these necessary restrictions and the public health message are preventing them doing so.

Even though the restrictions mean that they have no income, they play their part. Many of us know taxi drivers who, throughout the pandemic, especially when people were shielding and even now when we are dealing with closures under amendment No. 11, have taken workers to hospitals and people to care homes. They have delivered food parcels and medicines, and they have done their best. We all know how they are valued, yet they asked us whether we valued them at all. Some drivers downgraded their insurance but still have a taxi policy. Yet, before the restrictions in amendment No. 11 were introduced, taxi drivers were promised that they would be included in the Department for the Economy's COVID restrictions business support scheme. However, just as amendment No. 11 was announced, they were told that they were excluded from that scheme too. They have been excluded from a scheme that was put in place because of decisions that they had to make because of their insurance, and now they have been excluded again.

We need to make a call and let taxi drivers know that while amendment No. 11 is going to have an impact on their businesses — we have asked people to stay at home, and, as a result, there is no one on the streets or to take to and from the pubs, restaurants and hotels — we are aware that they need support.

Generally, people are fed up and frustrated with two more weeks of these amendments.

People have listened to the chair of the BMA, Tom Black, say that reopening the hospitality industry would be:

"an act of careless vandalism".

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

Will the Member give way?

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

That is hard for —.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

I have listened patiently to the Member, but the thought that keeps occurring to me is that she is lecturing us through the surrogacy of Dr Tom Black about doing the right thing. Did she think of any of that when she was leading the colour party at a funeral that was attended by thousands of people? Did she ever think of doing the right thing? Or is what she says for everyone else but not her and her cronies?

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

We have all listened to Tom Black and heard what he said. Bobby Storey has been dead for five months. As other Members would, we send our thoughts and sympathy to his family, because what happened is something on which there has been an ongoing, daily exchange of views. Sinn Féin has made it clear that we are aware of the impact that it had on the public health message and has apologised for it.

Tom Black is an eminent doctor; of course, we would listen to him. It was hard for people in the hospitality industry, for instance, when they heard about more restrictions and amendment No 11 coming into place. They had hoped that they were going to open, only to be told that they were not. They had spent thousands on putting measures in place. When they opened in the summer, they tried their best to keep people safe by putting those measures in place. I assume that other Members have heard from people in the hospitality sector, and many others, who, when they heard about amendment No 11, further restrictions and the fact that they were not going to be allowed to open as they had hoped, question why schools are open. There is no doubt that children in school —.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

On a point of order, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. Will you advise the House if amendment No. 11 says any of the things that the Member says it does?

Christopher Stalford (DUP, Belfast South)

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 11) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020:

"clarifies the meaning of self-catering accommodation. ... provides for a person to take part in indoor exercise or sport with a carer or carers. ... requires the closure of hostels and similar establishments, with certain exemptions. ... provides that an exemption in relation to caravans also relates to motorhomes. ... provides that hairdressing, makeup and other close contact services may operate in film and television production, and defines certain terms."

Amendment No. 12:

"provides for physical education to take place in schools and other educational settings."

and:

"provides that tables or other facilities in an area adjacent to hospitality premises are to be treated as part of the premises."

Amendment No. 3 extends:

"the requirement to wear a face covering to post primary school children on school transport and on other public transport."

It has been read into the record, and everybody knows what we should be talking about.

Martina Anderson (Sinn Féin, Foyle)

Thank you. It is in that vein that I talk about amendment No. 12 and children at school, because that has provoked some conversations. We need to ensure that children have playtime at breaks and lunch rather than having to remain in one small room for up to six hours. That relates to amendment No. 12.

There is no doubt that children's education is paramount, but the point that I want to make about playtime and amendment No. 12 is that it can be challenging, because staff absences are placing a huge strain on schools. That is what is happening in Derry and across the North. The staff who are left in schools are trying to cater for blended learning, or making sure that children get outside for exercise and all that amendment No. 12 deals with.

During the two weeks of restrictions, when other places are closed, anxiety is fuelled among staff members by that. The staff feel somewhat isolated and a bit at risk. That is something that we need to acknowledge, because we are talking about mental health and the levels of anxiety, which are not good for staff or pupils. If, as the Deputy Chair of the Health Committee has said, we do what amendment No. 3 encourages us all to do — wear a face covering, coupled with washing our hands and keeping social distance — hopefully, businesses will see the opening of their premises on 11 December.

However, I echo the question that Pat Sheehan asked as to whether the Health Minister will bring forward recommendations to the Executive about further restrictions post 11 December. The industry needs to know that now, not on 10 December, and not at lastminute.com. We all want to be able to have some form of "new normal" exchanges with each other as we continue to practice these measures. No one wants these restrictions that we are discussing to be in place. No one wants to catch the virus, either. However, given the death toll that we have all mentioned, the pressure on hospitality settings and the real pressures on hospitals, those extra two weeks offer us the chance of pushing the community transmission as low as possible to allow, hopefully, for a safer Christmas for everyone.

I support the amendments.

Sinéad Bradley (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

On behalf of the SDLP, I acknowledge what are, ultimately, clarifying amendments that have come to the House. I recognise that we are in a global pandemic and that we are working a system that is far from perfect or ideal. Decisions are being made at Executive level, announcements are being made and I — like every Member of the House, regardless of party — will be inundated, almost instantaneously, by text messages and emails asking, "What exactly do these regulations mean for me, my business, my school or the organisation that I represent?" I appreciate that the piece of work in front of us is almost the latter end of that process. Today we are looking at the amendments that were required to bring in to check the regulations that were quite hastily, in many cases, put on paper and brought through the House.

That said, many amendments that come to the House in this form are a result of those phone calls, texts and messages that we get from people on the ground who are going to be affected by the announcements that have been made. Therefore, I get frustrated, as I am sure many Members do, that, when the announcements are made, the clarity is often not there. As a Member of this House, I have yet to find the correct, quick, swift way of getting that clarity. The goalposts keep moving as to what emails I should be using and what websites I should be visiting. It is a movable feast. There is a huge piece of work — a problem that has to be ironed out — as to how we communicate better, from the point when the announcement is made right through the process to this point, where we have clarifying amendments before the House. I say, and I know, and I have heard — and I would like the Minister, as a Member of the Executive, to clarify for me — that money was set aside for that purpose. Money has been set aside purely for communication. I have yet to see the outworkings of that. I would appreciate it if the Minister were to enlighten me on that.

I will speak about the process that brought these amendments to the House. On this occasion, it happens to be the Departments of the Economy and Education that are the foundation Departments behind these amendments. It would be a helpful part of that communication tool, regardless of who the Minister is or which amendment is in front of us, to use the House as the place to speak directly to not just Members but the media and public who are watching and give the rationale behind the amendments, the voices or stories that they heard that brought the Executive to a consensus and explain that for people to understand.

I have noted that, while there have been very harsh regulations imposed on almost everyone in some form, when the logic behind the regulations is communicated, people are very understanding because business people are also mothers and fathers. No one stands alone in any part of their life. COVID-19 rippled through every part of our economy and community, and it touches every house, household and individual. We are definitely failing in our communications and the way in which we explain the rationale behind a lot of the amendments and, indeed, the original regulations.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I thank the Member for giving way. The Member has hit on a key point. As has been rightly pointed out, a lot of us have been inundated with questions from businesses every day. Does the Member agree that a helpline should be established for MLAs to get the information quickly and in one place? Does the Member also agree that communication is not rocket science? Communication should be very clear. This is a relatively small region of six counties, 11 council areas and 18 constituencies, and communication should be very manageable and doable very quickly.

Sinéad Bradley (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I thank the Member for his contribution. It is a very clear ask, and a helpline would help every Member, as they will, ultimately, spread that information very quickly to those who need to know it.

I appreciate that sometimes the logic or the nuance behind some of the amendments is quite complex, and it is not black and white or simple to relay. However, when we take the time to do that, people do understand it. They do get it. Ultimately, we have these clarifying amendments in front of us, and there is detail against each of them. However, I have to admit that, while the last Member was speaking, I revised whether I was looking at the right amendments. While I would love to be speaking about the high-street voucher scheme, I see that it is not part of the No. 11 amendments; nor is the scheme for taxi drivers, which is a very important cause. However, I would be swerving far from the amendments in front of me if I were to bring that to the Floor. I will not confuse matters further.

I thank the Minister for Health for coming forward with these amendments today. However, I am not sure that his doing so is good practice, to be quite honest. I would have liked an opportunity to have the Minister behind the amendments in front of us. We know we missed a lot of the scrutiny and that had to happen due to the speed that was required. That being said, this was an opportunity to put on the public record —.

Steve Aiken (UUP, South Antrim)

Thank you for giving way. Today, the Education Minister was on a Zoom call that he was pushing out on Twitter. Do you think it would be more appropriate if the Education Minister were to take the time to be here to explain the regulations to Members?

Sinéad Bradley (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

I take the Member's point. I am not privy to where the Education Minister is today. I do not say that to get at the Education Minister or the Economy Minister. I genuinely say, across the House, that it would be best practice to have the thinking and the logic delivered by whichever Minister is behind the amendments. I appreciate that, even had the Ministers been here today, they would be speaking retrospectively. The Ministers will be bringing something that has already happened, and that is difficult to iron out of the system, but a Minister's being here would have had great value.

Based on that, I do recognise and note the clarifying detail in these amendments. Like other Members, I urge the public to remember that this is about you. It is about you, your family, your neighbourhoods and your community. While there is no denying that the credibility of some of the people in this place who have to step forward and deliver this has been shaken, ultimately, the people of Northern Ireland know better. They know that this is about them standing up for their communities, their loved ones and the people around them, and they ultimately know how thankful we genuinely all are to those healthcare workers who are stepping up day and daily and putting themselves at risk for the safety of others.

I will close my remarks by offering my condolences to all those families who have been affected by the loss of loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic to date.

Alan Chambers (UUP, North Down)

I was disappointed to learn from the Minister's opening remarks that two Ministers in the Executive declined to accede to his request for one or both of them to lead on the Assembly's scrutiny of amendments — those in front of us today — that they had specifically requested. I understood that the Executive had pledged to move away from the ministerial silo mentality and to take collective decisions and, more importantly, collective responsibility. It did not work before, and, to echo the words of Mr Middleton, it is not helpful now. Surely, if ever there was a time for such a united and collective approach, it must be in the middle of a second surge of a worldwide deadly pandemic, and that should include the House and not just the Executive.

Tomorrow, the House will discuss a private Member's motion on the roll-out of the COVID vaccine. That enormous and unprecedented exercise will require the full support of the Executive. It will not benefit from any Minister going on a solo run to sow seeds of doubt, nor the intervention of elected Members from outside this House voicing bizarre opinions.

The failure of Ministers to take a degree of responsibility for regulations that they have called for is at odds with the previous commitment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister that regulations would be tabled and laid in the Assembly by the relevant Minister. There also seems to be confusion among some Members that all the regulations and guidance issued during the pandemic have been other than decisions taken by and on behalf of the Executive.

It is very noticeable that some Members appear to target the Minister of Health when demanding answers on various elements of regulations, and it seems to me to be a classic case of shooting the messenger. Minister Swann is normally the conduit to the Executive for the current medical and scientific advice, but the decision on whether to accept or ignore that advice lies with the democratic vote in the Executive or, as happened recently, can be rejected by use of the cross-community vote veto. That decision may still have negative consequences for the health of the people of Northern Ireland.

The regulations before us have been in operation for a few weeks. They were scrutinised by the Health Committee a few weeks ago, and, as such, it is a bit of an academic exercise coming before the House today, but protocol has to be followed and satisfied. As we, hopefully, move into the phase of beginning to vaccinate, we must congratulate the scientists who have brought the vaccine forward in such a timely manner. All of us in the House need to commit to supporting the efforts to vaccinate our entire community and the efforts to restore all other services offered by our NHS.

Maybe those who hurl from the ditches will stop trying to outdo each other in sniping at the Minister and his Department and will accept the fact that the DUP and Sinn Féin had two opportunities to take the Health portfolio. That was before we fully understood the implications of the pandemic that was coming towards us at that time. Tackling growing waiting lists was the major challenge back then. I am grateful that my colleague Robin Swann had the courage to take up the challenges when others ran away from them, and I think that the work that he has done to date has been recognised by the vast majority of the public.

We know that other hospital services have been curtailed.

That is a regrettable consequence of this virus. It is also the stark reality of the price that we are having to pay because of this virus. That reality seems to present difficulties for some Members to accept or to understand. I am sure that the Minister, in his winding-up speech, will have no difficulty in confirming that no urgent or immediate life-saving medical intervention has been or will be denied to anyone. If these regulations, along with others, are followed and a reduction in the rate of COVID transmission is reflected in a reduction in the number of hospital admissions, normal services can be fully restored across all medical disciplines.

I listened today, and on Thursday at the Health Committee, to Mr Buckley passionately making the case for gyms to reopen. I wonder whether he has taken advice from Professor Gabriel Scally on this issue. I know that he holds the professor in quite high regard. The professor advocates total lockdown. I take Ms Bradshaw's point that it is only for two weeks. Lockdown is only until 11 December, and it will be reviewed.

Jonathan Buckley (DUP, Upper Bann)

Will the Member give way?

Alan Chambers (UUP, North Down)

No, I am just finishing.

In the meantime, my party and I fully support the regulations that are before us today.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

Minister, first I wish to put on record my sincere appreciation and thanks to you and your private office for your helpful intervention last week in relation to a constituent of mine. It came as a great comfort and support to Frank Tracey and his family. It is with much regret that I say that Frank lost his battle with this virus in the early hours of Saturday morning, leaving behind his lovely wife, Jude, his daughter, Anita, and his two sons, Matthew and Darren. I can safely say, Minister, before discussing these regulations, that the journey that I have been through with the Tracey family in the past 10 days has brought this virus home hard. I heard a wife on the other end of a phone cry and plead. A daughter and two sons knew, as their father's condition worsened in Altnagelvin Hospital, that they would never see him again. In the early hours of Saturday morning, the nurses in that hospital held Frank's hand and sung to him to comfort and calm him in the final minutes of his life. It came as a great comfort, Minister, to Frank's family to know that those nurses went the extra mile to support their father and husband in the final hours of his life.

Frank called me last Tuesday when I was on my way to the Assembly, knowing that his battle with the virus was coming to an end. He had this to say:

"Please get the message out there loud and clear. I have done everything, as have my family, to ensure that we followed the regulations and kept safe."

He admitted that he could not beat the virus. He was a man who was very fit, healthy and able. He was energetic, loved life and loved his family. He asked that people take this seriously and said that it could end a life very quickly. In Frank's case, it was just over one week.

I put on record my sincerest appreciation of the healthcare staff who have to comfort people in their final hours and who ensure that they are at peace and not alone, which is very difficult indeed. Minister, I thank you, because I know the difficult job that you have and the burden that is on you to try to help and support people throughout this pandemic.

The message is simple: wear masks, wash hands and keep your distance. I was a personal friend of Frank, and he was very much loved in the community of Strabane. This is the third death in just over a week. Ms Anderson, rightly, mentioned the Ward family who lost their mother and father. Nothing halts complacency like a sudden and painful death, and that family have suffered incredibly. That is why these regulations, which clarify measures that are in place, are so important and essential. We all tend to forget that our actions and our complacency can have dire consequences for another person or their life. Society needs to hear these stories about the journeys that families are on and the coldness of the process and the journey. When a person is taken, quite ill, into the care of the hospital, the family may not see that person again. That is a very harsh and very painful reality. They were not allowed a wake and no wider family or friends can attend the funeral. I can tell you, Minister, that I have been helping people throughout this pandemic and that opened my eyes this week. I have never had a phone call like it.

In Frank's honour and memory, it is important to put on record just how important our healthcare staff are and to offer the condolence of the House to his family — his wife, Jude, daughter, Anita, and two sons, Matthew and Darren. I urge the Assembly to work, as strongly together as we can, to protect human life. Nobody wants these regulations; nobody wants businesses closed; but nobody wants to lose a father, a mother, a daughter, a son or a grandparent. That is what is most important. They are irreplaceable. Thank you.

Christopher Stalford (DUP, Belfast South)

Question Time begins at 2.00 pm. I suggest that the House takes its ease until then. This debate will continue after Question Time, when the next Member to speak will be Dr Steve Aiken.

Members, please take your ease. Do not forget to clean the surfaces if you are leaving the Chamber. Thank you.

The debate stood suspended.

(Mr Speaker in the Chair)

Oral Answers to Questions — The Executive Office

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

1. Mr Muir asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the introduction of legislation on commitments related to the rights, language and identity section of New Decade, New Approach (NDNA). (AQO 1201/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

We are committed to the development and implementation of the rights, language and identity proposals in the 'New Decade, New Approach' document. The delivery of those priorities will be important in building our shared future based on mutual respect and parity of esteem.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly delayed the speed at which we would have liked to see these issues progressed, it has certainly not deterred us from delivering them as quickly as possible. Officials are undertaking the necessary preparatory work to legislate for the core elements of the Bills, and we intend to progress legislation during 2020-21 and to create the relevant bodies as quickly as possible thereafter.

Andrew Muir (Alliance, North Down)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the deputy First Minister for her response. On 3 September I tabled a question for oral answer to the Executive Office that asked:

"in light of delays encountered to date, whether they intend to publish revised timescales for the implementation of New Decade, New Approach."

It is now the end of November, and I still have not received a response. Will the deputy First Minister give a commitment that new, clear and firm timescales will be given for the implementation of the rights, language, identity and all other aspects of 'New Decade, New Approach'?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I thank the Member for the question. I am sorry; I do not understand why you have not had a response, but I am happy to give you the commitment that, when we introduce the Bills, they will be laid out with a very clear time frame for delivery and you will be able to chart their way through the rest of the mandate. It is my intention that we deliver on the New Decade, New Approach issues, which, obviously, brought us all back together and brought about the restoration of the Executive. This is a really important piece of work that needs to be brought to the House in the imminent future.

Sean Lynch (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Do the joint Ministers agree with me that all 'New Deal, New Approach' commitments, not just those on language and rights, need to be delivered? However, critically, is she concerned that the British Government have failed to implement their commitments on legacy, including a public inquiry into the murder of the human rights solicitor Pat Finucane, which is a decision that we await today?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Thanks to the Member for his question. As he and everybody in the House know, 'NDNA' committed all the parties to working together and to doing everything possible to heal wounds and eliminate the issues that always divide us. Core to NDNA was that the British Government would:

"within 100 days, publish and introduce legislation ... to implement the Stormont House Agreement, to address Northern Ireland legacy issues."

They would also "start an intensive process". Clearly, to date the British Government have failed to bring forward any meaningful proposals on legacy, and there has not been any intensive process. To my mind, the failure to progress the commitments that were made demonstrates shocking levels of bad faith, particularly as those commitments have been outstanding since the Stormont House Agreement back in December 2014.

I spoke today to the Finucane family, who will this afternoon receive next steps from the British Government. It is their view, which I certainly share, that all state agencies must be accountable to the law. It is my clear view that the British Government have no alternative but to direct a public inquiry into the murder of the human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane. I believe that it is also in the public interest to do so.

The failure to honour political commitments and to uphold legal obligations in legacy matters will have far-reaching implications that affect victims and public confidence in the rule of law and the administration of justice. If we are going to continue to build the peace that we all must work very hard for every day, however difficult and challenging, in order to collectively heal all the wounds of the past we must continue to do that together.

Rosemary Barton (UUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Deputy First Minister, you will know that the Ulster Unionist Party is against this aspect of the New Decade, New Approach deal given that language and culture were already catered for as part of the Belfast Agreement. Minister, will you outline the overall cost of implementing this section of the agreement?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I am aware that the Ulster Unionist Party is against introducing legislation that delivers parity of esteem for those who have an Irish national identity. That is regrettable, and I ask you to reconsider that position. No one has anything to fear from legislating for the language or from allowing children who are educated through the medium of Irish to live their life through Irish. I again ask the Ulster Unionist Party to perhaps rethink its position and perhaps join everybody else who is trying to deliver this legislation, because I believe that it is in society's wider interests.

When we bring forward the proposal and the time frame for the delivery of the legislation, we will also bring forward costs for the various elements, including those for the office of identity, as well as details on what that will look like. I am very happy to provide that information to the Member.

Patsy McGlone (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Mid Ulster)

Will the role of the commissioners for languages be clearly defined in the legislation governing languages?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The Member will be aware that the legislation has been published as part of New Decade, New Approach, so he will be aware of what has been legislated for. Obviously, there are provisions in the Bill on the office of identity, and more meat has been put on the bones of that. Again, I hope to bring forward the legislation very soon and have a comprehensive conversation about the shaping of it.

George Robinson (DUP, East Londonderry)

2. Mr Robinson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of whether the change in approach in relation to border checks as previously intimated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be beneficial to the working relationship between Northern Ireland and Dublin. (AQO 1202/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The protocol commits to avoiding the need for any customs and regulatory checks or controls and related physical infrastructure North/South. As such, there is no change in the position of the Irish Government. The recent statement from Minister Simon Coveney clarifies that that will remain the case, even if, notwithstanding, the controversial clauses in the Internal Market Bill are reinstated when it returns to the House of Commons. I welcome that clarification.

George Robinson (DUP, East Londonderry)

Does the deputy First Minister agree that, compared with previous statements, the more cooperative tone from the Republic's Minister for Foreign Affairs is welcome, particularly for Northern Ireland businesses?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

We have to continue to work together. It is in everybody's interest that we work together North/South and, indeed, east-west, on the taxing issue of Brexit. As I said, the clarification from Minister Coveney is welcome.

Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice, North Antrim)

How does the deputy First Minister feel about the guarded border that is being provided by the Republic of Ireland in respect of COVID-19? Does that not illustrate the faux anger and farce of opposition, both from Dublin and politicians such as herself, to as much as an extra camera on the border when it came to Brexit? Is she so wedded to an ideology that she does not care whether restrictions on imports into Northern Ireland cripple the Northern Ireland economy, or, in fact, is that what she is looking for?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I remind the Member that the majority of the House reject Brexit. The majority of the parties and the majority of MLAs reject Brexit; it is being foisted upon us against our wishes. We set ourselves a task at the very start of the Brexit debacle to try to afford ourselves some protections, and those were achieved in the form of the protocol and the withdrawal agreement. Albeit far from perfect, they at least provide us with some guarantees and assurances, particularly in relation to there being no return to a hard border and protecting the all-island economy.

Whilst there is no meeting of minds in the Executive on Brexit, there is a joined-up approach insofar as we want to minimise disruption and minimise costs being pushed on to the consumer. We have worked very hard to make sure that that is front and centre of the debate.

I say clearly to the Member that I have worked very hard to protect the interests of the people who live here. I have looked to Dublin to afford some protections to people in this jurisdiction, and we need to continue to do that.

Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I want to pick up on the issue of borders and border checks. Does the joint First Minister share my concern about the uncertainty facing cross-border workers in the context of Brexit?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, I certainly do. There are an estimated 30,000 cross-border workers in Ireland, many of whom cross the border, back and forth, every day as part of their daily routine. The loss of protections at the end of the transition period in just over one month's time — that is fast coming towards us — will have a huge impact on people's everyday lives.

I am concerned about the flaws and shortcomings in the British Government's frontier workers' regulations. I note that several trades unions, the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), the Centre for Cross-Border Studies and various migrant welfare associations have also recently raised those concerns with the British Government. As the Brexit negotiations enter the endgame, it is not an acceptable nor a tenable position that cross-border workers are still in limbo at this stage of the discussions.

Any frontier schemes must be accessible for, and cognisant of the special needs of, cross-border workers in Ireland. The British Government must fulfil their legal obligations as contained in the Good Friday Agreement and the EU withdrawal agreement.

John Blair (Alliance, South Antrim)

Can the deputy First Minister confirm that all Departments have been working collectively to ensure that they are ready for the post-transition period and to deal with all possible outcomes of the negotiations?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

A cross-departmental group has been set up. It looked at the areas of concern and what we need to address. Six high-level impact risks have been identified and will need to be addressed: food supply; highly regulated goods, such as medicines; business preparedness; data flows; sanitary and phytosanitary checks; and transport. Everyone is working together on a cross-departmental basis to try to address those. I can assure you that there is a long list beyond those six things that also needs to be resolved. There are significant challenges, and significant preparation is under way. As we come to the crunch period — we have been told it is a crunch for a number of weeks now — we are now in the realm of the endgame for where Brexit is going to land. These are big challenges for the Executive and the Assembly, and we are going to have to embrace them and take them on.

Christopher Stalford (DUP, Belfast South)

The contents of the Internal Market Bill represent a "backstop to the backstop", to use a phrase. Given the reaction that there has been to the content of the Internal Market Bill, does it not expose just how false the claim that "best endeavours would be used" has proven to be? By what torturous logic does the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland say that a proposal that cuts Northern Ireland business off from its largest market represents a good outcome for us?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The Member will know my views on the Internal Market Bill — they are very clear. This is the British Government trying to rewrite a deal which they had previously made and reneging on a commitment which they made to the EU, only to then legislate and to breach international law. That does not bode well for anybody looking for a future trade relationship. When it comes to the interests of businesses here, there will not be very many opportunities if the British Government continually breach their own obligations that they themselves signed up to.

Sinéad McLaughlin (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

3. Ms McLaughlin asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the work their Department has undertaken in preparing an Executive-wide COVID-19 recovery plan. (AQO 1203/17-22)

Robbie Butler (UUP, Lagan Valley)

14. Mr Butler asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what discussions have taken place with Executive colleagues and other relevant agencies in relation to establishing a monitoring, compliance and enforcement task force to address COVID-19. (AQO 1214/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Mr Speaker, it is my understanding that question 12 has been withdrawn. With your permission, I will answer questions 3 and 14 together.

The Executive’s response to, and recovery from, COVID-19 continues to be focused on the health and well-being of our citizens, our economic well-being, revitalising the economy and our societal and community well-being. A large amount of public health evidence is considered, much of which is publicly available. Papers from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) are published on a publicly available data repository, and reports of independent SAGE and original scientific publications are considered, along with other evidence. The Executive are placing a particular emphasis on people and families, and we know how important this is to everyone. Any decisions on the Executive’s next steps, therefore, will be informed by the impact that they may have on us as individuals, on families and on the wider communities within which we live. We are committed to ensuring that support packages meet the needs of those who need our help.

Looking towards 2021, the Executive have approved a recovery framework which is aimed at progressing a cohesive approach across the whole of Government that will deliver an economic, health and societal recovery, with citizens at its core. This work will complement the longer-term Programme for Government which is currently being developed and which we are aiming to have in place by April 2021. The junior Ministers currently lead a strategic enforcement group comprising local government and PSNI representation, as well as TEO, Justice, Economy and Communities officials. We are also looking at additional ways in which we can encourage all citizens and sectors to adhere to regulations and public health advice.

Sinéad McLaughlin (Social Democratic and Labour Party, Foyle)

Thank you, Minister, for your answer so far. We are 10 months into this pandemic, Minister. Can you give a guarantee that, following the current lockdown, we will get a very clear recovery plan? The Republic of Ireland, England and Scotland have plans, and the people of Northern Ireland deserve one.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

As I set out in my original answer, we are very much looking towards recovery. We are still in the midst of the pandemic, and we have to work our way through the latest phase that we are in.

We are really hopeful that the measures that have been brought in will bring us to the other side of Christmas. Most people will have noted over the past number of days that the figures for positive cases are going in the right direction, and that is welcome.

We have to look towards recovery. We have, as you know, appointed an interim head of the Civil Service, which will help us in our recovery. We want Jenny Pyper to focus on COVID, Brexit and recovery: those are the three things at the top of her in-tray, working with us.

We have to work our way out of this. The Treasury's announcement last week was disappointing for our ability to invest in recovery. The Executive are and will be focused on recovery into the new year. We will have to pick up an awful lot of broken pieces, because that is the reality. Economically, a lot of sectors are in tatters and need the Executive's support.

Jemma Dolan (Sinn Féin, Fermanagh and South Tyrone)

Minister, our priority must be to find new ways to minimise the impact of the pandemic, save lives, reduce the spread of the virus and protect the capacity of our health service. Is the joint First Minister optimistic about the potential for a mass vaccination and testing programme?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Thanks to the Member for that question. Most of the questions that I was asked over the weekend were about the vaccine, because everybody is looking for hope and a way out of the pandemic.

We had a good presentation at the Executive last Thursday from the head of the Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine programme. It is really heartening that plans for the roll-out of the vaccine are at an advanced stage. I hope that some of the most vulnerable will be the first to receive the vaccine. It will be laid out in five phases. The first phase includes our healthcare staff, care home residents and those over 80 years old. Early in 2021, those over 65 and vulnerable people under 65 will receive it. In spring 2021, those over 50 who have not been vaccinated should receive it. By the summer of 2021, we hope to see mass vaccination rolled out to the general public. That is a hopeful position to be in. Necessary alongside that will be the rolling-out of mass testing. That will be an important part of our management of COVID until we get to the point where we have widespread vaccination in place.

The roll-out of both of those programmes will be challenging. They present us with a huge logistical challenge, but core to our approach to all of this is the establishment of a task force, which we announced last week, to take forward this essential work. There is no doubt in any of our minds that the delivery of a mass testing programme and of the vaccine are transformative in our battle against COVID.

Doug Beattie (UUP, Upper Bann)

Thank you, Minister, for your detailed answers. Could you expand slightly and let us know what role the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities will have in any recovery plan/framework?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Any recovery plan or any plan for the future will involve every Department because everyone will have a part to play. Work has been done on that over the past few months. Whether it is the Department for the Economy supporting or investing in businesses or the Department for Communities supporting people, individuals or the community and voluntary sector, everybody has a part to play in society.

We aim to deliver a balanced and proportionate response. Dealing with the here and now is about supporting people economically and financially. However, recovery is not about just getting us back to where we were; it is about how, maybe, we can do things better. Can we have societal reforms that help us to deliver better? It is a combination of supporting individuals, workers and businesses and that wider societal approach. It is not for just the Executive to deliver that: we will very much look to wider societal input. We will not be able to do this together, because we will be recovering from such a massive shock: COVID and Brexit together — a double dunt. That will hugely shake the foundations of life as we know it, so we have a big job of work in terms of recovery.

Gordon Dunne (DUP, North Down)

Can the deputy First Minister elaborate on the need to support businesses — for example, those on the high street and those in the tourism and hospitality sector, such as hotels — that are hardest hit and really are in need of support through recovery?

[Interruption.]

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I do not know what was going on with that noise, but I will carry on.

You are absolutely right: some of the financial packages that the Executive were able to announce last week were hugely significant. We are trying to reach people who have perhaps not had funding previously. We are conscious of the fact that the tourism sector has been completely decimated. Tourism and COVID just do not go hand in hand. We know that we need to support people to stay still until we come out the other side of this and they can start to operate again. We hope that a number of the things that we brought forward last week will go some way to supporting people right now, everything from the rates holiday and the voucher scheme, which will get our high street running again, to the support that we announced for tourism, hospitality schemes and bed and breakfasts and the additional support for pubs. All those things are really important to keep people afloat until we get to the other side of this.

Emma Rogan (Sinn Féin, South Down)

4. Ms Rogan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on preparations for the outcome of Brexit negotiations. (AQO 1204/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Over recent weeks, negotiations have intensified with the aim of securing an agreement. Discussions on the future relationship have continued since then. We welcome the commitment to continue discussions, but we recognise that the talks could still result in a non-negotiated outcome. We are therefore continuing our operational readiness planning to include that possibility. The key challenge for Departments in this planning process is the urgent clarity that is needed to implement the protocol and any agreed deal with the EU. Our officials have undertaken bilateral meetings with officials from other Departments in order to scrutinise readiness issues and identify possible mitigations, including where interventions would be required from the British Government, and assurances around continuity agreements or bilateral agreements.

Emma Rogan (Sinn Féin, South Down)

Ministers will be aware that the lack of clarity and preparedness on the implementation of the protocol will have a real impact in economic terms. Can the joint First Minister set out the primary issues of concern at the minute?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Thanks for the question. I said in answer to an earlier question that this is a crunch week. It appears that we are edging closer to an outcome. As I said, we have been told for some time that this would be crunch week, but it is clear that time is running out. It appears that things are edging closer — at least, the issues are narrowed down — to reaching an agreement. There is no doubt that we and all Departments face significant challenges in undertaking all the readiness planning, including the lack of clarity on issues in relation to the protocol, which will have wider implications for operational readiness. As a result, the EU future relations programme has been refocused on readiness activities. The Executive have agreed to focus on the six high-priority, high-impact risks identified by the Departments: food supply; flow of highly regulated goods; business preparedness; data flows; sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks; and transport. To ensure that those are considered concurrently, that planning is being taken forward in parallel with the COVID-19 response and recovery. We have in place a hub structure, which exists to respond to both COVID and EU exit, should it be required. All of that speaks to the need for immediate clarity and certainty and for the British Government to fulfil their legal obligations as contained in the Good Friday Agreement and the EU withdrawal agreement.

Roy Beggs (UUP, East Antrim)

The outworkings of Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol are slowly becoming apparent to Northern Ireland consumers and businesses. Many retailers are already indicating that checks on food products will add to costs and delays and that some products will not even be placed on shelves from 1 January. Has the deputy First Minister, along with the First Minister, vigorously lobbied the EU to minimise delays on our goods moving to GB and to minimise the bureaucracy, costs, delays and inconvenience for Northern Ireland consumers?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I can say to the Member — we have spoken about it in the House before — that, yes, we have. We have raised it at every opportunity. We do not have a meeting of minds on Brexit, but we have a meeting of minds in trying to limit disruption to our local businesses and in making sure that costs are not passed on to consumers. Over recent weeks, we have heard at length about the issue of food supply, and I have said that that is one of the high-risk areas that we have identified. We will continue to raise that issue until we have clarity on all of these things. It is about time that businesses here had that clarity. We have been calling for it for a considerable time.

Colin McGrath (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)

The deputy First Minister will be aware that today begins the last three weeks before Christmas recess. Does she have any indication of the legislative timetable that will be required to deliver the Brexit legislation that is required before 31 December? As nothing is planned for this week, how will we fit that in to the two weeks that are left?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

The Member has set out the challenge. With all the work and preparedness that is being done cross-departmentally by Departments, there is no doubt that there will be a legislative burden on us. Even if it does not come before the end of the year, it will carry us through the rest of the mandate. We will be bringing forward legislation because, I think, there will be things that come in the aftermath as well.

We have set out the legislative programme. Once we have clarity — hopefully, we will get that one way or the other this week — we will, at least, be able to set out clearly what the legislation looks like and get a timetable for its delivery.

Joanne Bunting (DUP, Belfast East)

The deputy First Minister mentioned the importance of relationships during this crucial period. In light of that, does she concur that recent tweets from Sinn Féin TDs about a terrorist campaign have been immensely hurtful and damaging to relationships at home?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

A Cheann Comhairle, the question is about Brexit. The Member may take the opportunity during topical questions, but this question is about Brexit.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

5. Mr Clarke asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on discussions with church organisations in relation to the funding of redress for historical institutional abuse (HIA). (AQO 1205/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Payments of compensation to victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse began in May, and, as of 19 November, redress panels had made 219 determinations, totalling £5·9 million. A total of £4·3 million has been paid out. While redress can never fully right the wrongs of the past, it is an acknowledgement by the Executive of the harm done, harm that must never happen again.

Contributions from institutions found responsible for systemic failings by the Hart inquiry would defray some of the costs of compensation. That is a key Hart recommendation. Officials have engaged in a further round of contacts with the institutions to affirm the Executive’s intentions. To proceed, we are seeking a round-table meeting with the relevant institutions to emphasise the seriousness of the negotiations and the urgency of making progress and to agree the fundamental principles that would govern the negotiations.

Trevor Clarke (DUP, South Antrim)

The latter part of the answer answered my question in the sense that no discussions have yet taken place. It is important for many in the House that the financial burden is laid on the institutions that were responsible for the hurt caused to those people. Minister, I urge you to update the House on your commitments to make sure that those institutions pay for the damage that they did to individuals who were supposed to be in their care.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

There is no question about that. Although there have been contacts at an official level, I am quite frustrated that there has not been a further meeting. I assure the Member that I have raised with officials the need to have that meeting now. We need to progress the issue now.

Mike Nesbitt (UUP, Strangford)

Given that we know the institutions that will be liable to contribute to redress, will the Minister consider asking them to make substantial deposits immediately, deposits that could be refunded if they had paid excessively? Such a scheme would take much of the pressure off the public purse.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

As I said, they have a role to play and have to contribute financially. I take on board what you said and will speak to officials to see whether it is possible. If it would help to prevent further delay, I would be more than open to looking at it.

Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin, South Down)

Will the joint First Minister provide an update on the timeline for delivery of the new HIA support services?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I am delighted to say that we will launch the service tomorrow. It will build on what has been achieved for HIA victims and survivors and on the interim service for counselling and emotional support that was established in the early summer. This is certainly another milestone in the implementation of the Hart report.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

That ends the period for listed questions. We move on to 15 minutes of topical questions.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

T1. Mr McCrossan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the roll-out of the COVID vaccine and to reassure those living in rural areas that they will have access to the vaccine, particularly those people who have no access to cars or public transport. (AQT 741/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

As I set out earlier in Question Time, the vaccine programme certainly offers us the best hope in our fightback against the pandemic, and great strides forward have been made. There will be a roll-out plan over five different phases, with the first phase being nursing homes, care home staff and over-80s. That is deemed to be the most vulnerable category. It moves on to over-65s and under-65s who are vulnerable.

The roll-out of the vaccine is very positive news. I do not want anybody to get carried away, because it may take us until next summer to have it fully implemented, so we still need to be vigilant and to follow the public health advice. However, this is a brilliant step forward, great strides have been made, and I commend all those who got us to this point. We will have a range of vaccinations, with access, I think, to seven different vaccinations. We will receive our Barnett consequential for all that. A mass vaccination society offers us the best protection against COVID and the best hope for moving beyond COVID.

Daniel McCrossan (Social Democratic and Labour Party, West Tyrone)

I thank the deputy First Minister for the answer to the question. It is a very positive step forward, and it is very reassuring that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, 2021 will be a much better year for our society than the one that we have all endured this year.

Can the Minister outline whether councils will have a particular role in administering the vaccine to ensure that its roll-out is done swiftly and quickly? Does the Minister foresee that the army will be required in order to get the vaccine out?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Last week, the First Minister and I announced the task force, and the task force is about bringing together all the Departments in looking at how they can play their role in making sure that we deliver mass testing and a vaccine right across our communities. We have excellent infrastructure here to be able to deliver both programmes. We want to bring Departments together, and councils will certainly have a role to play. We have so many community facilities to use if required. Councils have played their role, as have communities, the whole way through the pandemic. It will take cross-departmental work and a huge lift on behalf of everybody, but that is why we announced the task force to do that very piece of work.

George Robinson (DUP, East Londonderry)

T2. Mr Robinson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the deputy First Minister’s reaction to the comments of her Sinn Féin colleague, Brian Stanley TD, on the horrific Narrow Water atrocity. (AQT 742/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Brian Stanley deleted his tweet, which was inappropriate and insensitive; he has apologised, and I accept that. We all have a responsibility in this decade of centenaries to remember and commemorate the past in a respectful manner. There is an onus on all of us in positions of political leadership to do our utmost to move this society on, to avoid refighting old battles of the past and to conduct our politics in a way that is respectful and which does not threaten anyone.

During this decade of centenaries, we are marking the key seminal events that have clearly shaped the direction of Ireland and the relationship between Ireland and Britain, over the past 100 years. We must set out our analysis, experience and narrative of the past 100 years in a way that is honest, while doing so in a way that does not deepen division. As an Irish republican, I will contribute constructively by setting out, with confidence, our inclusive, positive vision for the future, where our mission is to bring all the people of this island together, not to keep us apart.

George Robinson (DUP, East Londonderry)

Given previous incidents, such as the gesture by Sinn Féin's Barry McElduff about Kingsmill, what action would the deputy First Minister take if a Member from her Assembly team was to make insulting remarks that were similar to those of Mr Stanley?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

As I said, I think that all of us in political leadership have an onus to do our utmost to move society forward and to make sure that we avoid refighting battles of the past. I encourage all of us in the Chamber, as political leaders, to do so.

Chris Lyttle (Alliance, Belfast East)

T3. Mr Lyttle asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given that it has been a challenging year for children in Northern Ireland, with many, including two little people in his house, really looking forward to the hope and gifts of Christmas, to confirm, for younger — and some older — constituents, that the Executive guidelines will allow Santa Claus, insofar as is possible, to deliver some presents to children this Christmas. (AQT 743/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

That is an excellent question, and I am quite sure that —

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

He is asking for a friend.

[Laughter.]

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

— all the little boys and girls out there will really want to know the answer. I can confirm that the elves have confirmed to the Executive that Santa is getting ready, Dancer, Prancer and Rudolph are ready to go, the presents are packed and Santa will be here. They also said that all the boys and girls need to be very good, because there are just 25 more sleeps before Santa is here.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I call Chris Lyttle to follow that one with a supplementary question.

[Laughter.]

Clare Bailey (Green, Belfast South)

Have you been good?

[Laughter.]

Chris Lyttle (Alliance, Belfast East)

I have tried my best this year. I thank the deputy First Minister for that confirmation that Santa Claus will be allowed to work in Northern Ireland this Christmas, and, indeed, I wish all children a really happy end of term and Christmas this year.

Will the deputy First Minister ensure that the Executive work together, as best as they possibly can, in order to make 2021 a better year for all children in Northern Ireland?

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I will check Hansard to see whether I can give you a reference.

[Laughter.]

I call Kellie Armstrong.

Kellie Armstrong (Alliance, Strangford)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the deputy First Minister and my colleague for that —.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I am sorry, Ms Armstrong; I neglected to let the deputy First Minister respond to the previous question, if she wishes to do so.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I will just concur with Mr Lyttle. Absolutely, and 2020 has been a desperate year all round on many fronts for many people. We all acknowledge readily that many people are struggling right now as a result of everything that has happened this year. Let us all hope that next year will be a better year, and let us all work together to make that the case.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I now call Kellie Armstrong.

Kellie Armstrong (Alliance, Strangford)

T4. Ms Armstrong asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the previous question about presents, to confirm when the flags, identity, culture and tradition report will be published or brought to the Executive for discussion, particularly because she received a present at the weekend, which concerned her slightly, in that it was the image of a flag that is being designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Northern Ireland, which looked to be very one-sided. (AQT 744/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

As the Member knows, we received the report back on 17 July. It covers a wide range of complex and challenging issues that have remained unresolved and have impacted on our society for many years. The junior Ministers met the former joint chairpersons of the commission in order to discuss the report, and we are considering the final report. We will decide on the appropriate next steps, including a decision on the publication of the commission's report, in due course.

Kellie Armstrong (Alliance, Strangford)

As I mentioned, next year brings forward the 100th anniversary celebrations and centenary, however people want to recognise it. Given that Northern Ireland has come so far in the last couple of decades, can the deputy First Minister confirm whether, moving forward into next year, any considerations will represent all the citizens who live in this place, including those of us who designate as "both" and "other", in order to ensure that, if there is any production of flags, memorabilia or anything, it is actually inclusive?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I am on public record as saying that the decade of centenaries opens up the debate on all the seminal events that shaped the direction of Ireland and, indeed, Britain, and the relationship between the two islands. For me, 2021 should be inclusive. It should be about how we include everybody in the conversation about the continued transformation of society and how we can make things better. For me, it certainly presents an opportunity. Whilst I will certainly never say that there is anything to celebrate about partition — it has failed everybody across the island — I do not want 2021 to be defined by rancour or division. I certainly want it to be about a forward-looking conversation, the future and how we can do that and make things better together.

Alex Maskey (Sinn Féin, Belfast West)

I advise the House that questions 7 and 9 have been withdrawn.

William Irwin (DUP, Newry and Armagh)

T5. Mr Irwin asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they accept the frustrations of smaller retailers such as toyshops when they see large supermarkets selling the same products that they have been prevented from selling. (AQT 745/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

Yes, I certainly can. It is such a frustrating time for many people. There are many contradictions and anomalies in the regulations, so I share those concerns. We tried to mitigate that somewhat by allowing click and collect in order to allow people some opportunity to be able to sell. However, I fully accept the challenges that there are for the business community right now.

William Irwin (DUP, Newry and Armagh)

I thank the deputy First Minister for her response. Can she confirm that such businesses that have to close will receive support through the Department of Finance scheme in a timely manner?

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

A number of schemes are paying out grant aid at the moment, and whilst we are asking people to close their doors, it is vital that they be financially supported. We hope that continued progress is being made on both schemes across the Department of Finance and the Department for the Economy. We need to get that money into people's pockets now. I assure the Member that those who have been affected by the recent wave of restrictions will also be included in the financial support package.

Mervyn Storey (DUP, North Antrim)

T6. Mr Storey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given that the deputy First Minister has stated in the House that all state agencies must be accountable to the law, whether, as one of those state agents — a Minister of the Crown — the deputy First Minister will outline accurately what contact she has had with the PSNI in relation to the Bobby Storey funeral, unlike when she appeared before the Executive Office Committee on 1 July, when she stated that republicans would have come in even larger numbers from across this island and further afield to the funeral had that been possible and had Sinn Féin not actively discouraged people, given that we now know that that discouragement was not the case. (AQT 746/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

I have come before this House and the Committee on many occasions and have amply dealt with the issue. On the PSNI inquiry into the funeral, I have cooperated from the outset and will be available to the PSNI when it sets a date for a discussion.

Mervyn Storey (DUP, North Antrim)

Does the deputy First Minister accept that it has been hugely frustrating for the public to see this fiasco being played out for the last number of months when, at the weekend, in north Down, people were put off the beach for going for a swim? She and her colleagues, some of whom are in this House, attended a funeral in breach of the regulations, and, months later, we are still playing out this pantomime of giving the right, accurate account to the law.

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

My position is very clear. I have stated very clearly that I am more than happy to speak to the PSNI when something is arranged. At the weekend, people were asked to leave the beach for a reason, which is that COVID-19 is rife and we need to try to get on top of it.

Maolíosa McHugh (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

T8. Mr McHugh asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, as Christmas is fast approaching, what advice the joint First Minister has for families. (AQT 748/17-22)

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin, Mid Ulster)

It is such an important time, and I am grateful for the earlier question from Chris Lyttle. It is important that we give people hope. I am glad that, last week, we could announce that the Executive have agreed that up to three households will be able to form an exclusive bubble for five days between 23 and 27 December. For us, that is a balance, as we know that any relaxation comes with an increased risk.

Our health service is still under huge pressure, as we know, and that will be the case into the new year. Even at Christmas, we are asking people to be sensible and to please prevent the virus from spreading. So be as safe as possible if you get together. Some people will not take advantage of the relaxations, but it is for everybody to make up their own mind, based on their personal circumstances, and decide what is right for them and their families. Our message is that we are allowing some flexibility, but please think of the health service and think about the implications for what might come in January if we let our guard down too much.

Maolíosa McHugh (Sinn Féin, West Tyrone)

I thank the joint First Minister for her answer. My question is probably very appropriate, as my mother is in a care home and was only recently diagnosed with COVID-19. Can she confirm whether decisions on Christmas arrangements have been made for care homes and for students?