CLAIRE HANNA MLA for South Belfast EU CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY: WE’RE BETTER OFF IN! he SDLP will campaign in favour the UK to work in co-operation on Tof the EU referendum in June. the basis of equality and mutual Claire Hanna said: “Since its respect. It has also developed foundation the SDLP has been strong social protection for workers strongly in favour of the European and consumers. The SDLP is an project, based on fundamental internationalist party and believes principles of democracy, peace that complex global problems such and free movement of people. as climate change, humanitarian The economic case to stay is clear crises and international crime - NI receives much more in direct can only be tackled by nation funding than we put in and up to states working collectively and 1 in 8 jobs here are linked to our in harmony. We are not blind ability to trade within one of the to the need for reform of the world’s most stable markets. EU, including the need for the “However, the debate should be European Commission to be more wider than just the economic accountable to the Parliament, but benefits. The EU has underpinned know this change is better delivered Claire addressing a public peace and enabled Ireland and from inside the EU.” meeting on Europe READY TO VOTE? ABSENT VOTER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN very election hundreds of votes in South Belfast are lost because people were Enot registered to vote or were unable to get to the polling station on election day. This often includes young people travelling or at university, those working away from home, people who are unwell and have difficulty getting out, or families taking a quick break during school holidays. outh Belfast will be one of the closest fought Assembly races on Thursday 5 May S— in 2011 the SDLP’s second seat was held by fewer than 300 votes — so every vote really does count. To make sure you are registered to vote, or to apply for a postal or proxy vote, you can contact our voting helpline on 02890 520369 or [email protected] or visit the Electoral Office website. Claire March Newsletter last.indd 1 07/03/2016 23:13:39 laire Hanna with SDLP CLeader Colum Eastwood MLA at a rally in support of Junior Doctors opposing changes to their contracts which it is feared would affect patient safety and retention of staff. The SDLP has been supportive of allied health professionals and their consistent campaigning for long term, strategic leadership to address problems within the National Health Service, and for a stronger focus on preventative and rehabilitative healthcare. FOR A THRIVING, SHARED, SAFE SOUTH BELFAST laire has lived in South Belfast since the age of South Belfast residents and Claire works with government Cthree and in various parts of the constituency over to keep South Belfast moving. While on Stormont’s the last 30 years. Uniquely among South Belfast MLAs Regional Development Committee, Claire was a strong she has first hand experience of using local schools supporter of initiatives to support bus and cycle travel, and community services and of the challenges facing contributing to the overall aim of reducing the volume of residents. Claire works to solve individual cases and cars on the road, and making other journeys smoother. problems, along with a focus on longer term solutions to • Claire initiated an Assembly debate on small quality of life issues, including some of those below: business rates reform to support the small businesses and retailers which provide hundreds of jobs and orking with residents and partners like Queen’s neighbourhood vibrancy to areas such as the Lisburn, WUniversity and Ulster Rugby to find local solutions Ormeau and Saintfield Roads, Carryduff and Finaghy. to parking problems including in Lower Malone, •Campaigning to mitigate the impact of sudden pension Stranmillis, the Holylands and Ravenhill. changes for thousands of women born in the 1950s and • Supporting meaningful ways to address crime and helping many local families access tax credits that help fear of crime , including more proactive policing, bridge the gap between lower paid work and family costs. Neighbourhood Watch schemes and custodial sentences •Protecting the diversity and inclusivity of South Belfast for repeat offenders. — avoiding words and deeds which inflame, incite and • Using her experience as a councillor, Claire assists divide. Campaigning against policy and practices that residents to make a strong case against divide our community and neighbourhoods. overdevelopment , lobbies to preserve townscape • Delivering for residents on hundreds of queries character and helps individuals and local businesses to relating to traffic calming, maintenance of street trees and get prompt decisions on straightforward applications. verges, waste collection and recycling, street lighting and • Traffic and transport are high on the agenda for cleaning. Fearghal McKinney MLA Fearghal McKinney has been Licensing reform an MLA for South Belfast Claire Hanna used Assembly questions to since 2013 and SDLP Deputy press the Social Development Minister on Leader since November overdue licensing reform. She said: “Our 2015. He is SDLP Health hospitality sector supports thousands of spokesperson and serves jobs with growth potential in speciality on the Assembly Health and food and drink, including craft beer. Social Services Committee Research also shows that the vast majority and on the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee. of binge drinking is done at home and Fearghal is a father of three that staggering closing times would and prior to joining the actually reduce bad behaviour on our Assembly had a distinguished streets. While in the DSD Ministry SDLP career in journalism and as consulted on these laws but the issue has a UTV presenter. You can not progressed since 2011. The excuse of contact Fearghal on 90614193 the Executive that they’ve ‘run out of time’ or Fearghal.McKinney@mla. is wearing thin, especially as so much niassembly.gov.uk time was lost to political squabbling.” Claire March Newsletter last.indd 2 07/03/2016 23:13:40 laire is a keen supporter of the Arts and shortly af- Cter becoming an MLA she established an All Party Group on the Arts and Creativity. Claire said: “I believe in the intrinsic value of the Arts and in their potential to enhance the quality of all of our lives. The Arts are also increasingly being recognised as a major economic driver, as well as a vehicle to help deliver public priorities, not least in health and education. Creative cities thrive and Arts and culture in Belfast provide more shared space and integration than Government could hope to create. I formed the Group to ensure a dedicated forum for issues relating to the Arts to be heard at Stormont.” As a Councillor Claire spearheaded the campaign to name the Greenway bridge after playwright and trade Young at art — enjoying the Belfast Children’s unionist Sam Thompson and successfully proposed Festival at the Lyric Theatre, Stranmillis, in March poet Michael Longley for the Freedom of Belfast. POLITICAL REFORM AND CONSTRUCTIVE OPPOSITION s the main architects with real scrutiny powers. To this and worrying numbers of people Aof peace and the post- end we constructively engaged are completely switching off. Agreement institutions the with Independent MLA John The SDLP has helped to SDLP has understandably McCallister’s Opposition Bill. create new official opposition been reluctant to leave the structures to allow Stormont to responsibilities of government Lengthy periods of deadlock, move beyond symbolism and to parties which have practised limp strategies and some highly hopefully restore confidence in power division rather than questionable governance the possibility of politics finding power sharing in the Executive over the last nine years of the big answers to the big over the last nine years. DUP and Sinn Fein rule have problems. However, we believe that after demonstrated clearly that The SDLP will campaign for a almost two decades of peace devolution isn’t delivering nearly strong mandate to govern after processing it is time for the as much as people deserve. May and will commit to ensuring Assembly to be reformed on a Confidence in politics and increased accountability more normal, left / right axis, politicians is at an all time low whatever role we take. PLAYING OUR PART TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE laire Hanna went to Paris-at her own expense in CDecember 2015 where the COP21 climate change summit was being held. She said: “I welcome the commitment of nearly 200 states to work to keep the global temperature increase below 2 degrees centigrade compared to pre-industrial levels, but share the fears of many scientists and campaigners that targets do not go far enough . I also welcome the commitment to put $100 billion a year into climate finance but believe poorer countries need more support to allow them to adapt to increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather.” SDLP activists “We have to think globally and act locally. The SDLP has including former done good work in the Environment Ministry, including South Belfast MLA pushing for and consulting on an NI Climate Act, and we Carmel Hanna, at hope that the next Programme for Government will be Belfast’s Climate more ambitious about how NI can play its part in tackling Change rally this huge global challenge.” Claire March Newsletter last.indd 3 07/03/2016 23:13:40 laire was appointed SDLP Finance spokesperson in February and is developing the Party’s policies Cwith regard to public finances and governance for the next Assembly term. Claire believes that we have to be more innovative in delivering public services that are both economical and effective, and has outlined how utilities such as water and energy could be delivered by public interest corporations.