I want to write to Colm Gildernew
Did you mean fracking speaker:Colm Gildernew?
Colm Gildernew: The Committee would have sought to drill further into those figures, because that has been a recurring feature of some of the difficulties that the Committee has had in tracking money through from where it is allocated to how it lands on the ground and, crucially, what impact it has on some of the key aims, including the reduction of health inequalities, which is a major issue, and...
Colm Gildernew: ...as the Department continues to deal with the pandemic. Throughout the financial year, we have seen a number of COVID-related allocations to the Department so that it can deal with issues including track and trace, testing and vaccination. Those allocations have been welcome and much-needed, and they have helped the Department and the Executive to provide a map out of the pandemic and to...
Colm Gildernew: ...from many sources. The Committee outlines that the Department needs to consider how total funding for different streams can be identified and reported. That is essential to allow the money to be tracked to see whether the strategy is effective and how it evolves. The Committee is keen to see how the funding reports will work in practice and, therefore, asked a number of questions of the...
Colm Gildernew: ..., given that things are so complex. You stated that you are disappointed at where we are at present, so is consideration being given to reopening some of the walk-in centres to make a start on fast-tracking the programme?
Colm Gildernew: .... We have differences in our system here. I do not think that we can rely on data being extrapolated from elsewhere. It is imperative that we put in place monitoring systems so that we can properly track and pick apart measures to determine which are working, which are not working so effectively and what we can do better in the future.
Colm Gildernew: ...premises such as cafes and permits food to be ordered at a buffet or carvery. Officials outlined that feedback from the sector on the changes was positive. I raised an issue about testing, track and trace and measuring the impact of easing restrictions on the transmission rate. That is an area that the Committee has highlighted on number of occasions, and it would be good to see the...
Colm Gildernew: ...in the last Budget debate about the scrutiny of spending plans and priorities. I have to say that, in the Department of Health, it is very difficult to identify spending on priorities and, then, to track that spending over the financial year. With such a large budget in the Department of Health, we tend to get a headline figure, with no real detail of the total spend to tackle waiting...
Colm Gildernew: ...and better outcomes for patients. That has to be a priority in the coming years. On scrutiny of spending plans and priorities, it can be difficult first to identify spending priorities and then to track that spending over the financial year, particularly in the complex area of health. The Department has such a large budget that we tend to get the headline figures with no real detail on...
Colm Gildernew: ...all-island approach, we also see to see a robust both-islands approach. In the run-up to Christmas, you indicated that you were looking at passenger health locator forms as a way of improving our tracking and management of east-west travel. Is there an update on that?
Colm Gildernew: ...lead. First of all, we should be leading for ourselves — with the devolved powers that we have, there is no reason why we cannot do that. However, to follow England, which has one of the worst track records in the world, is a crucial mistake. We need to tailor our solutions to the situation that we are facing. To finish, Minister, in the Irish language, the word for Minister is Aire, as...
Colm Gildernew: ...of such issues faces us in the days, weeks and months ahead. It must be very challenging for the Minister to have to deal with COVID-19 and the secondary tsunami of Brexit, which is coming down the tracks at us. There is very little good for us from Brexit. It creates uncertainty, difficulty and, potentially, unforeseen consequences. We did not vote for Brexit in the North, and what we...
Colm Gildernew: ...providing for easements to restrictions. As I have previously informed Members, the Committee raised several issues with the Department during its consideration. They included the evidence and tracking in the decision-making process behind the various easements and the strategies for engagement with harder-to-reach communities. I dtaobh seirbhísí tiomána isteach agus léirithe de,...
Colm Gildernew: ...Officer on 28 May. The Committee agreed that it was content for the small easements to restrictions to be made, but a number of issues were raised. The first was about the evidence and tracking that go into decision making about when we ease restrictions. We are advised that a process has been agreed across the Executive and that Departments proposing a change are required to fill in a...
Colm Gildernew: ...smaller businesses. The 2019 report on rebalancing the economy revealed that only 4% of the North's social enterprises were located in Fermanagh and Tyrone. Given that the social economy has a track record of delivering social value and sustainable jobs, it is important that we see that sector delivering more of those benefits in Fermanagh, Tyrone and all areas west of the Bann. We also...