Northern Ireland’s church leaders have called for more clarity regarding the proposed legislation on welfare reform and an indication of what will be decided by Westminster legislation and the areas in which the Northern Ireland Assembly will have autonomy.
The call was made at the beginning of a discussion event organised by the church leaders and held on Wednesday 29 February in the Presbyterian Assembly Hall, Assembly Buildings, Fisherwick Place, Belfast.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP, and Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, addressed an invited audience and took questions from a panel representing various interest groups whose work will be directly affected by changes to the legislation.
The church leaders involved were Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop Alan Harper, Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan Patterson, Methodist President Rev Ian Henderson and President of the Irish Council of Churches, Dr Richard Clarke.
Last December the church leaders travelled to London to voice their concerns to Lord Freud, the Minister for Welfare Reform who is drafting the legislation. Subsequently they have held meetings with the Secretary of State and Minister McCausland.
“Our primary concern as church leaders has been to clarify the implications of the social welfare reforms passing through Westminster for the people of Northern Ireland,” said Cardinal Brady.
“We want to respectfully challenge those who hold authority in civil society to act with justice and to show compassion to those most in need. Those with the least capacity to suffer cuts should not be made to suffer more. We want to express our concern at the potentially dramatic and negative consequences for some of the most vulnerable in our society and for the wider economy in Northern Ireland.”
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said: “Those who are too sick or disabled to work will always receive support from the state as they should. It is precisely because we need to protect the vulnerable that we need a system that works. Few people disagree that the present system is broken and as a country we cannot go on increasing out of work benefits without ever tackling the root causes of deprivation. There is nothing moral, progressive or compassionate about leaving people on benefits without support or incentive to get back into work.
“These reforms will ensure that work always pays, that the most vulnerable in our society are protected and that the welfare system is fair to those on benefits but also fair to those who pay for them.
“It is for the Executive in Northern Ireland to bring forward the legislation here once the Bill has been passed in Westminster, and for legal and practical reasons parity should be maintained. There will, however, be areas where the Executive will want flexibility to fit local circumstances and we will do whatever we can to accommodate that. That is why we have been meeting Nelson and his department officials and many other groups such as the church leaders, so that we can help ensure that Northern Ireland’s specific issues are reflected where possible.”
Speaking at the event, Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, said: “I recognise the concerns many have regarding the proposals to reform the welfare system. That is why I have engaged with the church leaders to hear their concerns, and it is why I am here tonight.
“It is generally accepted that the welfare system is complex and increasingly expensive to run, so reform is essential. As the church leaders have already said, whilst they support reform of the welfare system, they also have concerns about some of the welfare reform proposals.
“As Minister, I have already challenged some of the proposals and am working with my Executive colleagues to find ways to minimize the most negative aspects of these reforms. While it is possible to make some adjustments to operational delivery, it is essential to maintain parity with the rest of the United Kingdom in delivering the reforms.
“I am committed to ensuring that the most positive aspects of these changes – those that will make work pay for people, those that will help move people closer to the workplace, and those that will ensure our welfare system is sustainable for future generations – are maximized in Northern Ireland.”
The discussion event began with a welcome from the Presbyterian Moderator, Dr Ivan Patterson, and opening remarks from Cardinal Brady. This was followed by two speeches, firstly from the Secretary of State and then the Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland.
Members of the panel who discussed what they heard and, together with the audience, put questions to the main speakers were Pól Callaghan of the Citizens Advice Bureau, Director of St Vincent de Paul, Cormac Wilson, the Skainos Project’s Glenn Jordan, Hilary McClay who runs a social action project at Willowfield Parish Church, Harriet Poynton of the Salvation Army and Lindsay Conway, Director of Social Service for the Presbyterian Church.
