CLAIRE
HANNA
MLA for South Belfast
EU CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY:
WE’RE BETTER OFF IN!
T
he SDLP will campaign in favour
of the EU referendum in June.
Claire Hanna said: “Since its
foundation the SDLP has been
strongly in favour of the European
project, based on fundamental
principles of democracy, peace
and free movement of people.
The economic case to stay is clear
- NI receives much more in direct
funding than we put in and up to
1 in 8 jobs here are linked to our
ability to trade within one of the
world’s most stable markets.
“However, the debate should be
wider than just the economic
benefits. The EU has underpinned
peace and enabled Ireland and
the UK to work in co-operation on
the basis of equality and mutual
respect. It has also developed
strong social protection for workers
and consumers. The SDLP is an
internationalist party and believes
that complex global problems such
as climate change, humanitarian
crises and international crime
can only be tackled by nation
states working collectively and
in harmony. We are not blind
to the need for reform of the
EU, including the need for the
European Commission to be more
accountable to the Parliament, but
know this change is better delivered
from inside the EU.”
Claire addressing a public
meeting on Europe
READY TO VOTE? ABSENT VOTER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
E
very election hundreds of votes in South Belfast are lost because people were
not 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.
S
outh Belfast will be one of the closest fought Assembly races on Thursday 5 May
— 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
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laire Hanna with SDLP
Leader 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
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laire has lived in South Belfast since the age of
three and in various parts of the constituency over
the last 30 years. Uniquely among South Belfast MLAs
she has first hand experience of using local schools
and community services and of the challenges facing
residents. Claire works to solve individual cases and
problems, along with a focus on longer term solutions to
quality of life issues, including some of those below:
W
orking with residents and partners like Queen’s
University and Ulster Rugby to find local solutions
to parking problems including in Lower Malone,
Stranmillis, the Holylands and Ravenhill.
Supporting meaningful ways to address crime and
fear of crime, including more proactive policing,
Neighbourhood Watch schemes and custodial sentences
for repeat offenders.
Using her experience as a councillor, Claire assists
residents to make a strong case against
overdevelopment, lobbies to preserve townscape
character and helps individuals and local businesses to
get prompt decisions on straightforward applications.
Traffic and transport are high on the agenda for
•
•
•
Fearghal McKinney MLA
Claire March Newsletter last.indd 2
South Belfast residents and Claire works with government
to keep South Belfast moving. While on Stormont’s
Regional Development Committee, Claire was a strong
supporter of initiatives to support bus and cycle travel,
contributing to the overall aim of reducing the volume of
cars on the road, and making other journeys smoother.
Claire initiated an Assembly debate on small
business rates reform to support the small businesses
and retailers which provide hundreds of jobs and
neighbourhood vibrancy to areas such as the Lisburn,
Ormeau and Saintfield Roads, Carryduff and Finaghy.
Campaigning to mitigate the impact of sudden pension
changes for thousands of women born in the 1950s and
helping many local families access tax credits that help
bridge the gap between lower paid work and family costs.
Protecting the diversity and inclusivity of South Belfast
— avoiding words and deeds which inflame, incite and
divide. Campaigning against policy and practices that
divide our community and neighbourhoods.
Delivering for residents on hundreds of queries
relating to traffic calming, maintenance of street trees and
verges, waste collection and recycling, street lighting and
cleaning.
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Fearghal McKinney has been
an MLA for South Belfast
since 2013 and SDLP Deputy
Leader since November
2015. He is SDLP Health
spokesperson and serves
on the Assembly Health and
Social Services Committee
and on the Enterprise, Trade
and Investment Committee.
Fearghal is a father of three
and prior to joining the
Assembly had a distinguished
career in journalism and as
a UTV presenter. You can
contact Fearghal on 90614193
or Fearghal.McKinney@mla.
niassembly.gov.uk
Licensing reform
Claire Hanna used Assembly questions to
press the Social Development Minister on
overdue licensing reform. She said: “Our
hospitality sector supports thousands of
jobs with growth potential in speciality
food and drink, including craft beer.
Research also shows that the vast majority
of binge drinking is done at home and
that staggering closing times would
actually reduce bad behaviour on our
streets. While in the DSD Ministry SDLP
consulted on these laws but the issue has
not progressed since 2011. The excuse of
the Executive that they’ve ‘run out of time’
is wearing thin, especially as so much
time was lost to political squabbling.”
07/03/2016 23:13:40
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Young at art — enjoying the Belfast Children’s
Festival at the Lyric Theatre, Stranmillis, in March
laire is a keen supporter of the Arts and shortly after 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
unionist Sam Thompson and successfully proposed
poet Michael Longley for the Freedom of Belfast.
POLITICAL REFORM AND CONSTRUCTIVE OPPOSITION
s the main architects
of peace and the postA
Agreement institutions the
SDLP has understandably
been reluctant to leave the
responsibilities of government
to parties which have practised
power division rather than
power sharing in the Executive
over the last nine years.
However, we believe that after
almost two decades of peace
processing it is time for the
Assembly to be reformed on a
more normal, left / right axis,
with real scrutiny powers. To this
end we constructively engaged
with Independent MLA John
McCallister’s Opposition Bill.
Lengthy periods of deadlock,
limp strategies and some highly
questionable governance
over the last nine years of
DUP and Sinn Fein rule have
demonstrated clearly that
devolution isn’t delivering nearly
as much as people deserve.
Confidence in politics and
politicians is at an all time low
and worrying numbers of people
are completely switching off.
The SDLP has helped to
create new official opposition
structures to allow Stormont to
move beyond symbolism and
hopefully restore confidence in
the possibility of politics finding
the big answers to the big
problems.
The SDLP will campaign for a
strong mandate to govern after
May and will commit to ensuring
increased accountability
whatever role we take.
PLAYING OUR PART TO
FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
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laire Hanna went to Paris-at her own expense in
December 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.”
“We have to think globally and act locally. The SDLP has
done good work in the Environment Ministry, including
pushing for and consulting on an NI Climate Act, and we
hope that the next Programme for Government will be
more ambitious about how NI can play its part in tackling
this huge global challenge.”
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SDLP activists
including former
South Belfast MLA
Carmel Hanna, at
Belfast’s Climate
Change rally
07/03/2016 23:13:40
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laire was appointed SDLP Finance spokesperson
in February and is developing the Party’s policies
with 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. She
champions indigenous small and medium enterprises
which provide sustainable jobs and real social benefit,
and has highlighted the need to adequately invest in
skills and infrastructure to realise any potential from
lowering corporation tax.
laire pledges to be vigilant about governance and
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transparency to ensure financial decisions are taken
in the public interest and not to benefit a few ‘insider’
individuals as apparently has occurred with the sale of
the NAMA loan portfolio. The SDLP has also proposed
a budgeting process that requires Ministers to be
more transparent about the groups they fund.
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ABOUT CLAIRE
laire Hanna was co-opted to replace Alasdair McDonnell as South Belfast MLA in
June 2015, having previously been elected as a City Councillor in 2011 and 2014.
SDLP Finance Spokesperson, Deputy Chair of the Assembly Finance & Personnel Committee and
member of the Public Accounts Committee. Claire chairs the Assembly All Party Groups on
International Development and on the Arts and Creativity.
Professional background in international development and previously served in countries
including Bangladesh, Haiti and Zambia supporting innovative projects that strengthened the local
economy and public services. Most recently worked in a policy role in an Irish International NGO.
Married to Donal and a working mum of two lively girls aged two and four. Though born in the
County Galway Gaeltacht, Claire has lived in South Belfast for over 30 years. She is a graduate of the
Open University and last year completed a Masters in Law and Governance at Queen’s University.
Claire was innovative on policy initiatives as a City Councillor, bringing motions that made
Belfast the first Living Wage Council in Ireland, modified procurement policies to address tax dodging
and targeted advice to combat exploitative pay day lending. Claire was instrumental in securing
upgraded play equipment for South Belfast parks and the installation of drinking water fountains.
A social democrat in the Irish nationalist tradition, committed to social solidarity, encouraging
enterprise and excellence in public services. Claire opposes the politics of domination and division,
embraces diversity, is confident in her identity and is fully respectful of the identity of others.
In touch and answerable to you, Claire regularly publishes and distributes newsletters and
eNewsletters across the constituency and is available full time to constituents to answer policy, political
or constituency issues and questions.
CLAIRE
HANNA
Claire March Newsletter last.indd 4
98 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 6AG
028 905 20369
www.clairehanna.org
[email protected]
@ClaireHanna
This leaflet was designed and
printed in South Belfast.
Published by N Gallagher,
98 Lisburn Road.
07/03/2016 23:13:41