Official Report (Hansard) Tuesday 8 September 2020 Volume 130, No 3 Session 2020-2021 Contents Private Members' Business Local Economy and Post-Brexit Preparedness ................................................................................. 1 Public Inquiry into Muckamore Abbey Hospital ................................................................................. 19 Oral Answers to Questions Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs ....................................................................................... 30 Communities ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Northern Ireland Assembly Commission ........................................................................................... 47 Private Members' Business Public Inquiry into Muckamore Abbey Hospital (Continued) ............................................................. 54 Adjournment Recurring Flooding in the Newcastle Area ........................................................................................ 61 Assembly Members Aiken, Steve (South Antrim) Kearney, Declan (South Antrim) Allen, Andy (East Belfast) Kelly, Ms Catherine (West Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Archibald, Dr Caoimhe (East Londonderry) Kimmins, Ms Liz (Newry and Armagh) Armstrong, Ms Kellie (Strangford) Long, Mrs Naomi (East Belfast) Bailey, Ms Clare (South Belfast) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Barton, Mrs Rosemary (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Beattie, Doug (Upper Bann) Lyons, Gordon (East Antrim) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Blair, John (South Antrim) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Bradley, Maurice (East Londonderry) McCrossan, Daniel (West Tyrone) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Bradley, Ms Sinéad (South Down) McGrath, Colin (South Down) Bradshaw, Ms Paula (South Belfast) McGuigan, Philip (North Antrim) Buchanan, Keith (Mid Ulster) McHugh, Maolíosa (West Tyrone) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Buckley, Jonathan (Upper Bann) McLaughlin, Ms Sinead (Foyle) Bunting, Ms Joanne (East Belfast) McNulty, Justin (Newry and Armagh) Butler, Robbie (Lagan Valley) Mallon, Ms Nichola (North Belfast) Cameron, Mrs Pam (South Antrim) Maskey, Alex (Speaker) Carroll, Gerry (West Belfast) Middleton, Gary (Foyle) Catney, Pat (Lagan Valley) Muir, Andrew (North Down) Chambers, Alan (North Down) Mullan, Ms Karen (Foyle) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Dillon, Ms Linda (Mid Ulster) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Dodds, Mrs Diane (Upper Bann) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Dolan, Ms Jemma (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O'Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) O'Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) O'Toole, Matthew (South Belfast) Easton, Alex (North Down) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Ennis, Ms Sinéad (South Down) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Flynn, Ms Órlaithí (West Belfast) Rogan, Ms Emma (South Down) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Sheerin, Ms Emma (Mid Ulster) Gildernew, Colm (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Stalford, Christopher (South Belfast) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Stewart, John (East Antrim) Hargey, Ms Deirdre (South Belfast) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Harvey, Harry (Strangford) Sugden, Ms Claire (East Londonderry) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Weir, Peter (Strangford) Hunter, Ms Cara (East Londonderry) Wells, Jim (South Down) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Woods, Miss Rachel (North Down) Northern Ireland Assembly Tuesday 8 September 2020 The Assembly met at 10.30 am (Mr Speaker in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence. Private Members' Business It has been well documented over the past four years how damaging a Brexit that does not take Local Economy and Post-Brexit into account those unique circumstances would Preparedness be. That is one of the reasons that the protocol in the withdrawal agreement was painstakingly negotiated. Let us not forget that it was Dr Archibald: I beg to move negotiated and was a compromise on behalf of the EU 27 as well as the British Government. That this Assembly notes with concern recent The protocol is the legal basis for how trade will comments from the Northern Ireland business occur post-transition, and businesses need to Brexit working group regarding the lack of be supported in preparing for the post-transition technical and operational details available to trading arrangements under all scenarios of the local businesses concerning the changes that future economic partnership. There are 16 will come into force post-Brexit; recognises the weeks until the end of the transition period, and very complex and unique characteristics of the the calls for technical details and solutions that local economy; is concerned by the reflect the needs of businesses are still as precariousness of many of our small and relevant today as they were three months ago. medium enterprises at this time; and calls on the Minister for the Economy to establish We have heard from numerous representative urgently educational and training opportunities bodies about the challenges facing businesses to enhance the capacity of local businesses to in the time frames to prepare, and that it will not prepare for post-transition trading be possible to have systems in place for checks arrangements. and other procedures. The British Government had the opportunity to request an extension, Mr Speaker: The Business Committee has which, given the unprecedented circumstances agreed to allow up to one hour and 30 minutes created by the coronavirus pandemic, would for the debate. The proposer of the motion will have been the responsible thing to do, but have 10 minutes in which to propose and 10 instead they sailed through that deadline with minutes in which to make a winding-up speech. little consideration of the impact on businesses One amendment has been selected and is here that are already reeling from the impact of published on the Marshalled List. COVID-19. Dr Archibald: Today's motion was submitted in Over the course of the past few months, it June, following the publication of the NI seems that some realities have dawned on the business Brexit working group paper on British Government, with the acceptance that implementing the protocol. The sentiments of goods entering the North will require customs the motion, however, are as relevant today — declarations, and, at the beginning of August, indeed, more so — given the revelations of the there seems to have been an past two days, because very little has changed. acknowledgement that they were unable to deliver on their conflicting promises of no The motion refers to the "complex and unique additional burdens, and that the unavoidable characteristics" of our local economy. We have avalanche of red tape was going to be costly. an economy in which the vast majority of Unfortunately, there is no clarity around the businesses are SMEs, that has highly permanency of the arrangements or the funding integrated supply chains across the island, with of the Trader Support Service — currently, it is some products crossing the border numerous two years — and there are, of course, still times in the production life cycle, and where questions around how the customs processes, more businesses trade North/South than and the verification of those, will work. anywhere else. 1 Tuesday 8 September 2020 Ultimately, however, it is the lack of progress in scenarios, particularly in the midst of the negotiations on a number of key issues, such ongoing and increasing economic crisis created as the complexities of dual VAT systems, the by COVID-19. What training and educational certification requirements for agri-food and, opportunities are being put in place and what is critically, what "unfettered access" will mean the time frame on those? Will there be funds and the definition of "at-risk" goods. These available to businesses to help them to issues urgently need to be resolved, and, enhance their capacity to respond to the instead of committing to meaningful negotiation, challenges that they face? What is she doing to the British Government indulge in help them identify opportunities on an all- brinkmanship, and mooted plans to abandon Ireland basis? the withdrawal agreement and the implementation of the protocol. We await the We are fast running out of time, and businesses publication of the legislation to see the extent to and others are crying out for clarity and the which their reckless words turn into reckless ability to prepare. We need to ensure that they actions. are supported in that as far as possible, so I urge Members to support the motion. Let us also be clear that we are not the only ones who await that. Any country that is Mr Speaker: Matthew O'Toole will move the considering entering into trade negotiations with amendment. He will have 10 minutes to Britain will be watching, because it is about trust propose it and five minutes to make a winding- and whether you can count on those with whom up speech. All other Members who are called you have made an agreement to deliver. on to speak will