Image source, NI Assembly

Referencing recent Covid data, Paul Bradshaw of Alliance asks, how much worse must pressures on our health and social care sectors get before the executive brings these measures in?

Paul Givan says “we do know there was a critical care surge plan developed over the summer”.

The first minister adds that it seeks to “avoid the use of the Nightingale” as it had “significant consequences” on elective procedures being carried out.

“The health service is continuing to monitor the availability of its capacity”.

Image source, NI Assembly

DUP MLA Diane Dodds asks her party colleague, the first minister, what advice he would give businesses who have staff working at home “but would like to return to a level of normality”.

Paul Givan responds that businesses “have been seeking advice” on this issue.

The message of working from home was not a regulation, says the first minister, but rather guidance.

Image source, NI Assembly

Ulster Unionist John Stewart asks the ministers how long the introduction of Covid certification scheme could take to implement if agreed by the executive.

Paul Givan says this issue is referenced in contingency planning.

“The executive hasn’t taken a policy decision” on the matter of certifications, he adds.

Mr Givan says it would be for the health minister, Mr Stewart’s UUP colleague, to bring forward a paper on a certificate scheme to the executive for it to be discussed.

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The new chair of the Executive Office Committee, Sinead McLaughlin is first to question the ministers on their statement.

“Messaging from the joint office is not always clear or consistent,” says the SDLP MLA.

She asks who the ministers have engaged with to design and develop their plan.

Paul Givan responds that he and the deputy first minister “strive to have a unified approach and communicating it”.

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Pat Sheehan of Sinn Féin asks the first minister if he agrees that getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and other people?

Paul Givan says the plan indicates that the executive will continue to encourage people to get vaccinated where possible.

The DUP first minister adds “those that do have concerns can speak to their own GP and they may be able to get reassurance from them”.

Mr Givan says some "baseline measures" have been retained in the Autumn plan:

• The retention of a legal requirement for face coverings in crowded indoor settings;
• The retention of a focus on flexible and hybrid working to reduce the number of social contacts that take place in work settings – recognising that employers are well placed to engage with their workforce on the model that best suits their business;
• The continued legal requirement for risk assessments to be carried out in certain settings and for visitor and attendee details to be recorded to support the work of the Test, Trace and Protect system.

A number of potential contingency measures have been retained by the executive should case numbers rise sharply or hospital pressures become "unsustainable":

• More focused communications to emphasise the risk and the need for everyone to act immediately;
• The potential to deploy COVID status certification in higher risk settings if considered appropriate and necessary;
• A strengthening of arrangements for self-isolation for close contacts; and
• A re-imposition of a legal requirement for minimum social distancing in prescribed settings.

"We must maintain our focus and collective endeavour. All of us have a part to play in keeping transmission under control," Mr Givan says.

The first minister outlines some of the easements to be introduced in the near future:

From October 31:

• The requirement to be seated in hospitality to drink and eat food will be removed;
• The restriction on indoor dancing will be lifted;
• The need to maintain social distancing in hospitality settings, such as pubs and restaurants will move to guidance; and
• Nightclubs will be permitted to reopen.

Paul Givan notes that schools and the further education sector are back "and we will want to protect that, along with protecting our health service".

"We want to keep our business and leisure sectors open, and we want to minimise impacts on citizens over the coming months," the first minister adds.

The first minister says that in its Pathway Out of Restrictions, published on 2 March "the executive made commitments on how we would approach our decision making"

Paul Givan says that at the front of ministers' minds has been "the health and wellbeing of our citizens, our societal and community wellbeing, and our economic wellbeing and revitalizing the economy".

Mr Givan gives a summary of the executive's decisions since the Pathway was initially published.

"We have been driven by the data," he says.

Image source, NI Assembly

The first minister says we are now entering into the Autumn/Winter period where Covid thrives.

"Last year we did not see a significant flu season but we cannot guarantee it will be the same this year," he adds.

Outlining the figures for vaccinations and emphasising the difference they have made, he says "the booster jab is being rolled out and we will continue to promote this because it makes a difference to how we will get through the Autumn and Winter".

It’s been an action-packed start to assembly business this morning and it’s not over yet.

In a further change to schedule, the first and deputy first minster appear in the chamber to deliver an update to MLAs on the Autumn / Winter Contingency plan as part of wider Pathway out of Restrictions proposals.

Image source, NI Assembly

People Before Profit’s Gerry Carroll says the delays in cancer referrals for children “gives serious cause for concern and raises many questions”.

He says the waiting list is “a shocking indictment and a continual reminder of how our health system is failing people who need treatment”.

Mr Carroll says health workers have “done an outstanding job” but are often “overworked and underpaid”.

Alan Chambers of the UUP says the report published today "is uncomfortable reading".

He says he welcomes the cooperation between the Children's Commissioner and the Department of Health.

The North Down MLA says he fully expects that progress will be made between them.

Image source, NI Assembly

Paula Bradshaw of Alliance says "this is the latest general failing of an unreformed service".

She says that simply throwing money at an unreformed system will leave us with "more appalling instances of non-care".

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Carál Ní Chuilín of Sinn Féin says “I do have serious concerns” about the figures contained within the Children’s Commissioner’s report.

“With the length of time children and young people are waiting for their first appointment, second appointments, diagnosis, the list is getting worse and it was like that before Covid, Covid has compounded it,” she adds.

“At the heart of this it isn’t just about money, it’s workforce planning.”

Image source, NI Assembly

DUP MLA Pam Cameron says the delay is “a travesty”.

The deputy chair of the Health Committee says “there needs to be a distinct, targeted and sustained focus on the current barriers to waiting lists affecting children’s lives”.

Image source, Getty Images

A review has found that 24 children in Northern Ireland with confirmed or suspected cancers had to wait over a year for a first appointment.

The figure, for April, is in a review of child health waiting lists by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People.

More than 17,000 children were waiting more than a year to see a hospital consultant for the first time.

Children's Commissioner Koulla Yiasouma said the waiting times were "terrifying".

The review examined official waiting list data for children's health services not published as part of the Department of Health's statistical bulletins.

Read more here.

Image source, NI Assembly

There's another Matter of the Day now.

The SDLP's Colin McGrath wants to speak about delays in cancer referrals for children.

He refers to a report from the Children's Commissioner's report More Than Just a Number and says it shows "we are failing some of our children".

Mr McGrath says the report highlights that "more than 17,000 children are waiting to see a consultant for the first time".

He says it's "absolutely harrowing" that among the 17,000 "there are 24 waiting a year with a red flag to see a clinician over cancer diagnosis".

"If the system isn't working then it's broken," Mr McGrath says, adding that there is a duty on MLAs to fix it.

Image source, NI Assembly

Paula Bradshaw of Alliance says there are “those in this House and beyond, especially on social media playing politics with Mr Hutchings' passing”.

“It is essential to note that decisions on prosecution and decisions on fitness to stand trial are matters for the independent PPS (Public Prosecution Service) and judiciary,” says the South Belfast MLA.

Image source, NI Assembly

“Last night we heard of the sad end to the torrid pursuit of an old soldier,” says TUV MLA Jim Allister.

He says Dennis Hutchings was “needlessly dragged to court from his home and his family in Cornwall”.

“I say to this House our director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Herron, should be considering his position.”

Linda Dillon of Sinn Féin says "this is a human tragedy and my thoughts are with all of the families who are suffering at this time including the family of Dennis Hutchings".

She says the assembly's job is to make legislation.

"Our job is not to do the work of the PPS (Public Prosecution Service). Our job is not to do the job of the police. Our job is not to do the work of the judiciary," she adds.

Ms Dillon says this was a judicial process sand it is not the job of the assembly to interfere.

Image source, NI Assembly

Dolores Kelly of the SDLP says "I think all members here have expressed the view that no-one should be above the law, that the law showed be applied equally".

"That is a maxim I think we all can have faith in," she adds.

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Doug Beattie, the leader of the UUP, begins by paying condolences to Dennis Hutchings family and friends as well as to the family of John Pat Cunningham.

Mr Beattie says they both deserve “truth and justice”.

“People need to understand or find out why his case was elevated above all other cases, why his case suddenly ended up at the top of the pile along with others,” says Mr Beattie.

He says it’s a “difficult legacy process which is effecting us here and now”.

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DUP MLA Paul Frew describes Dennis Hutchings as a “strong, hardworking, diligent, compassionate solider.

“A soldier who served his country and who would have no doubt been let down many times in the act of that service by his superiors and his officers and that’s certainly true of the start of the Troubles,” he adds.

Image source, PA Media

Ex-soldier, Dennis Hutchings, died while on trial over a fatal shooting during Northern Ireland's Troubles.

The 80-year-old denied attempting to murder and cause grievous bodily harm to John Pat Cunningham.

Mr Cunningham, 27, was shot in the back as he ran from an Army patrol near Benburb, County Tyrone, in 1974.

Mr Hutchings' trial was adjourned for three weeks due to illness and the court heard on Monday that he had tested positive for Covid-19.

The non-jury trial had been sitting at Belfast Crown Court for three days a week to allow Mr Hutchings, who had been suffering from kidney disease, to receive dialysis treatment.

Mr Hutchings, from Cawsand in Cornwall, was an ex-member of the Life Guards regiment.

He also suffered from heart failure and fluid on the lung. He died in the Mater Hospital in Belfast on Monday afternoon.

His death was confirmed by an Army veterans' group on behalf of his family.

Read more on this story here.

Image source, NI Assembly

Speaker Alex Maskey opens the session and calls the members to order.

He announces that Sinn Féin's Fra McCann has resigned as MLA for West Belfast.

His place has been taken by Aisling Reilly, who has signed the roll of membership.

Mr Maskey announces the Matter of the Day.

It's been brought by Ulster Unionist Doug Beattie and refers to the death of ex-soldier Dennis Hutchings.

Hello and welcome to Tuesday's live coverage of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

This morning MLAs have quite a lot of committee business to get through in the main chamber before turning their attention to private members' business.

Alliance MLAs bring a motion on the stability of the institutions and referral to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee.

Image source, Tori Watson

Meanwhile Sinn Féin MLAs open a debate on the Department for Infrastructure's planning guidance for rural communities.

Question Time will also pop up at its regular 14:00 slot. Today the health minister and communities minister will be in the spotlight.

It's going to be a busy one, so stay with us for all of the action from 10:30.