Michelle O'Neill
Mid Ulster · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“We are shocked and deeply saddened for both the victim of the horrific incident in north Belfast and the people who have been impacted on by the disorder that we have witnessed since. There is absolutely no justification for racism, violence or intimidation.”
“It is the latest chapter in a political psychodrama. It has been playing out in Westminster for forever and a day but particularly over the past 10 years. Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of Brexit, which inflicted so much damage to the wider economy. We are now on the verge of having a seventh British Prime Minister in 10 years.”
“We cannot look at things in isolation. Whether it is the refugee integration strategy, the framework or the legislation, all those things need to move together and at pace.”
“I agree with the Member about the ugly language that was used to describe some people in our community. Like the Member, I have met many people from the black and ethnic minority community in recent times. I do that on an ongoing basis, but I did so recently given what happened over the last number of weeks.”
“There is not just one answer to it, as the Member knows. We need to come at it from every angle. That could be a policing response initially, for which additional funding was secured. I agree that this is the third year in a row in which we have had that type of racist behaviour on our streets. Likewise, I would describe it as a pogrom.”
“Building on that progress, the Executive Office is contributing £3·3 million towards the Derry on the North Atlantic Museum, which is due to open in 2027 and will further enhance Ebrington’s role as a heritage and tourism destination. <BR /> <BR />Ebrington is also continuing to develop as a vibrant events space.”
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“Full implementation requires the support of everybody out there: all of us and all partners. I acknowledge all that has been done by the voluntary and community organisations that work to combat racism, not just in weeks like this, at these horrendous times, but all year round, day in and day out. We commend your tireless efforts. <BR /> <BR />The minority ethnic development fund is an example of the Executive's programme that supports the invaluable work of those organisations. One of our key aims has been to establish dedicated structures to ensure that racial equality is given continued focus and that there is a strong link with our minority ethnic population.”
“It also recognises that each and every one of us has responsibility for playing our part in combating racism and racial inequalities by embracing the diversity that undoubtedly contributes to building a more vibrant, shared and equal society.”
“We acknowledge the work that has been done and the contributions that have been made right across our minority ethnic community, not just to our economic life but to our public, political, social and cultural life. This is our community. We must never lose sight of the fact that this is our community that we are talking about. <BR /> <BR />We want to see all our local businesses grow, not be destroyed by acts of violence. The strategy itself acknowledges:”
“<BR /> <BR />Make no mistake about it: last week's activity and the activity — I call it activity, but it is criminality — that we have witnessed over recent days was nothing more than raw racism, and it has to be addressed with a zero tolerance approach. Officials from the Executive Office are engaging with colleagues across Departments, with Belfast City Council, and with agencies and groups on the ground to explore how financial support can be provided to businesses that have been damaged or impacted on by the protests. <BR /> <BR />The Executive will continue to implement the racial quality strategy 2015-2025, but, as Members have indicated, we need to work towards moving to the next stage of that.”
“We can see the devastation that has happened, and our thoughts are with all those people. Much more than that, though, they want to know that we have their back and that we will stand with them. <BR /> <BR />Our healthcare workers are afraid to go to work. Our nurses are afraid to come home from work. Our mothers and families are afraid to take their children to a summer scheme or to the park. Our young people are afraid to walk the streets. That was a message that we heard loud and clear, and Members were hearing that too from the people whom they were engaging with. Certainly, yesterday, when the deputy First Minister and I met the racial equality subgroup, we heard that message. Yesterday evening, we met business owners who were impacted on, and we heard about their devastation and the support that they need.”
“We see you, we reject you, and we reject your attitudes and actions. To those who are involved in violence and intimidation and in causing chaos and destruction, I say this: you will be dealt with by the full force of the law. To those who are targeting our minority communities, I say this: stop now, because you do not speak for us, and you will never speak for us. <BR /> <BR />The racism and violence that we have witnessed are in stark contrast to the values of equality and respect that the Executive and the Assembly strive to promote and uphold. That was reaffirmed earlier today when our four-party Executive met. We see the devastating impact that those crimes have on victims. We have spoken to them. You all know them: they are your friends, your family and your community.”
“I welcome the fact that the Assembly has convened today and that we are very strongly united in standing firmly against the racism, violence and intimidation that we have witnessed over the past few days. I welcome the fact that we have many people in the Public Gallery today and that many people at home will be watching on and looking for strong political leadership at this time of violence and intimidation. <BR /> <BR />I very much welcome the tone that has been set, by and large, by most contributors to the debate. Racism is a stain on our society. There is a no to racism: there is no place for it in our society. There is no excuse, no rationale, no justification: racism is wrong in every single form. <BR /> <BR />I want to speak directly to those who are inciting hatred in our society today.”
“<BR /> <BR />To all victims and survivors we can say only this: we are so thankful for your tireless campaigning and for the fact that you did not give up and that, despite all your setbacks through many decades, you continued on that path. As we move into the consultation and public inquiry, we are now walking the journey with you so that we can get to the bottom of how those things were allowed to happen, make sure that lessons are learned and provide the full facts and information for victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />This is one of the most important areas of work that the Executive and Assembly will be engaged in during the mandate. We must get this right for victims and survivors, because they have been failed at every turn, and I know that we are all determined to do that.”
“Yes, absolutely. It is a source of shame for us as a society that women were so horribly failed. The historical treatment of and discrimination against women and girls is alive for us all to see, but this is our opportunity, as an Assembly and an Executive, to bring some healing to all the women, victims and survivors who were impacted by that experience. That is why it is important that we get this work right, are sensitive about how we work our way through it, are as inclusive as we can be, reach out as far as possible and listen wholeheartedly to the views of the victims and survivors, because this is about them. We have a chance not to fix but to bring some light to what happened to them and to their journey.”
“The truth recovery inquiry will have the powers to inquire into how the institutions operated, including any burials of persons with institutional links in unmarked graves. That is a clear commitment and a strength of what the inquiry can do. We are also aware of a specific concern, and our officials remain in contact with colleagues in the Department for Communities and the diocese to establish the facts of the matter. Any evidence of such issues should always be brought to the Truth Recovery Independent Panel or to the PSNI, if information becomes available, so that they can investigate any allegations of criminality if there are specific concerns to be raised.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Absolutely, the protection of all unmarked graves in cemeteries is of the utmost importance. We have seen across the island of Ireland how that has been exposed as being a very real issue, and we are alive to what has happened in our shameful past and how women on this island have been failed. The protection of unmarked graves in cemeteries has to be part and parcel of what we do. Powers and duties in relation to burials mainly fall under the responsibility of the Department for Communities. However, it is proposed that this will be an area of investigation for truth recovery, and that, again, hopefully, is a moment of progress.”
“As I said, it is really important that everything that we do is trauma-informed and that we adhere to the five guiding principles of safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, choice and empowerment. All members of the truth recovery programme team have undertaken their training in that area. The issues are sensitive and difficult, so it is crucial that we are all guided by that.”
“We do not want to add to anybody's distress, so it is important that we are guided by the trauma-informed principles, which help to ensure that we take the best possible approach.”
“Thank you for that. The Department is committed to ensuring that we adhere to the five guiding principles of trauma-informed practice: safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, choice and empowerment. All members of the truth recovery programme team have undertaken training in trauma-informed practice, and they endeavour to provide a safe and respectful forum. <BR /> <BR />As we all know, these are very difficult and sensitive areas. We absolutely acknowledge — we did so again yesterday, when we met victims and survivors — that language is crucial when we talk about such a sensitive topic. We understand that, even within the victim and survivor family, there is, perhaps, a difference in how people come at the issues to do with suitable terminology.”
“Yes. That is really important. The deputy First Minister and I listened to that request very carefully when we met the victims and survivors yesterday. They were eager, for the right reasons, obviously, to have sight of the document before it becomes public, given the sensitivity around the consultation. We committed to ensuring that that is the case. After we have given this statement to the House, we will immediately get the consultation document to the Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum, so that its members will, hopefully, have it a full two days in advance of its being made public on Thursday.”
“We are, however, aware of continued issues in some areas. Individuals are being supported with those issues as well.”
“Thank you for that question. We all recognise the difficulties caused by not having access to records. For many victims and survivors, it has been a real cause of distress and, for obvious reasons, frustration. As the Member will know, access to adoption records is the responsibility of the Department of Health, which, we understand, worked closely with victims and survivors of mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses to revise the guidance used by the health and social care trusts, which was published in November 2023. The updated guidance has been implemented, so it is now in effect. Officials will continue to closely monitor the situation. There seems to have been some positive movement on it, and we hope that that is maintained over the monitoring period, which ends in November 2024.”
“It is really important that we look at how we are accessible in the consultation. Yesterday, when we met the victims and survivors forum, we made it clear to them that we want to be accessible. We will establish ways for them to engage, and there will be someone to help them to do that. Language is important when we talk about a horrific time in people's lives. We have to be sensitive to that. I want to make sure that we are sensitive in the consultation. We will work with the victims and survivors' group and with the engagement forum and make sure that we create space so that people can sit down and, in their way, put across their views on what should happen. I am absolutely determined and think that we can do the right thing by victims and survivors and make sure that everything that is required for them to participate fully is done.”
“This is very informative, but it is absolutely an opportunity for us to get this right in this instance. We are all determined to do that.”
“The public consultation is about gathering all the information, about the framework on which we will proceed and about giving powers to the panel and the inquiry to scope out all the information on how women ended up in the institutions and what happened to their children in mother-and-baby cases. We need to find out all that information to take it forward. <BR /> <BR />We have already started the work of engagement with the institutions. As I said in relation to historical institutional abuse, we need to pursue the institutions. They have to pay redress, because that is also part of the healing process. That will be an ongoing piece of work as we move through this area of work now. The priority for the consultation is to put a shape to the inquiry: what the inquiry will look at, what its scope should be and the panel work as well.”
“All views expressed as part of the consultation will be fully considered before finalising the draft Bill. The Bill will be brought to the Executive for agreement before being introduced to the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />Finally, in launching the consultation, we acknowledge again the tireless and effective campaigning of all the victims and survivors that has helped to bring us to this point. Their patience, determination and dignity throughout these years have been absolutely remarkable. We hope that the steps announced today will provide them with some comfort and reassurance that we, as an Executive and Assembly, are committed to supporting them.”
“<BR /> <BR />Members will know from our statement on the legislative programme in recent weeks that we hope to see the draft Bill to establish the public inquiry and the financial redress scheme introduced in the Assembly before the end of this year. The consultation will run for 12 weeks. It will involve a series of online and in-person events that will allow those affected to ask questions and gain a better view of the proposals and help them to contribute. We encourage everyone who has an interest in the shape of the inquiry and redress scheme to get involved. That includes those directly or indirectly affected by the institutions, members of statutory and non-statutory organisations, health and social care professionals and the wider general public.”
“<BR /> <BR />All of that work is being progressed in parallel with the delivery of dedicated and specialist support for victims and survivors through the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS), in partnership with WAVE Trauma Centre and Adopt NI. Those services have been designed with victims and survivors' groups and others to make sure that they are survivor-led, accessible and responsive. Over 300 people have been able to access those support services to date. <BR /> <BR />Yesterday, the deputy First Minister and I met victims and survivors from the consultative forum. We felt that it was important that they hear first-hand about the next steps for the public consultation, and we wanted to thank them for all their efforts to this point. They now need the establishment of a public inquiry and delivery of the redress scheme without delay.”
“We thank the panel for the publication of its interim report last month. For both the independent panel and the statutory inquiry to carry out meaningful investigations, it is vital that they have access to records that they can assess in order to make evidence-based recommendations. <BR /> <BR />For that reason, we are pleased to update Members on the significant progress that has already been achieved in that area. Since the House passed the Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Act 2022 in March of that year, PRONI has been able to engage with institutions and begin the process of accessing, preserving, digitising and cataloguing approximately 4,500 private records, with over 3,000 of those items having already been deposited.”
“Additionally, we want to avoid the mistakes of the past, where victims and survivors were required to wait for too many years before they could access financial redress. That is why the scheme will provide for a more immediate and standardised payment initially. A further, individually assessed payment will also be made available following the work of the inquiry. <BR /> <BR />Victims and survivors have long campaigned for justice, and, while we are aware that it has taken too long to get to this point, we want to recognise some of the work achieved since the Executive agreed the truth recovery design panel's recommendations in November 2021. Notably, the first phase of the investigation has already begun, with the appointment of the Truth Recovery Independent Panel in April 2023.”
“At the meeting with survivors, we thanked them for their significant efforts to seek the truth and an acknowledgement of the terrible wrongs that they and others endured. We welcome the cross-party interest and support that this important matter has attracted to date. As Members are already aware, we are keen to keep the work moving so that those affected and their families can access truth, acknowledgement and accountability. I am sure that we can all agree that they have waited for far too long, and we all want to play our part to address the most difficult and shameful part of our past. <BR /> <BR />The public consultation aims to gather a wide range of views. That will help shape the necessary legislation to set up the inquiry to establish answers to the three core questions: what happened, why it happened and who was responsible.”
“The deputy First Minister and I wish to inform Members that the Executive Office will launch a public consultation on proposals to establish a statutory public inquiry and a financial redress scheme for those affected by mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses and their pathways and practices. The consultation will be launched this week. <BR /> <BR />Today marks another important milestone and an acknowledgement of the suffering inflicted on mothers and children in mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses. We have spoken directly to survivors, and we know that they still suffer the trauma of their appalling experiences, a trauma that was only ever made worse by years of being ignored when they sought the justice that they deserved.”
“I do not have the average time frame in front of me. What I can say is that there are concerns about the length of time that it can take to process an application. However, each application is unique and can be complex when it comes to assessment and the historical nature of much of the evidence. We are keeping that under constant review and are looking for ways to continually improve the throughput of cases. We are engaging closely with the victims and their representative groups, which bring these issues to us, so that we can continue to improve the situation for victims who come forward.”
“The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) bereaved scheme reopened to new clients in April 2021. Previously, only victims who had registered before 31 March were eligible. VSS self-directed support schemes have provided £13·5 million in funding to date to support bereaved victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />On the victims' payment, £45 million has been paid since the scheme opened. I will write to the Member about the number of applications.”
“Again, that is about liaising with Invest NI and the Department for the Economy. I am happy to send to you in writing the remit of the policy division. I do not have that in front of me, but it is around the areas that I just mentioned and working with the other key players or stakeholders, whether that be Invest NI or Department for the Economy officials. That linkage is strong. I will write to the Member.”
“The Economy Minister sets out the vision for the economic strategy, as he has done since he came into office, and it is based around four key things: more and better-paid jobs; productivity is a huge area; there is huge potential in the green economy; and regional balance, because we need to make sure that everybody shares in the prosperity agenda — that is really important. The Economy Minister takes the lead on the strategy, but the deputy First Minister and I, in our international relations strategy and diplomatic engagements, complement and overlay the work that is done in the Department for the Economy.”
“As I said, the Finance Minister has written to say that she is ready to make the allocations. I want that meeting to happen. I hope that we get agreement for that meeting. We do not need to wait until the other side of the election for that to happen. This is about business continuity and business as usual, but that is my view of it. I will still try to get an Executive meeting scheduled so that we can have that discussion.”
“I do not know where you got your specific figure from; that is for you to refer to. Certainly, there is money to be allocated in June monitoring, and I want to get that done as soon as possible, because it gives certainty to Departments that are struggling with the budgets that they currently have. There is additionality, and I hope that that will happen in the coming days.”
“Our Finance Minister has indicated that she is ready to make allocations. I would like to see the Executive meeting sooner rather than later so we can get that money allocated.”
“We want young people to be part of the electoral system and the democratic system; we want our politics to reflect society; we want our politics to have more young people and more people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds; and we want our politics to reflect the world that we live in. So my message to all young people — I am sure that you will concur — is that there is a role for them to play in politics and voting is a key element of that. I, like you, am of the view that the voting age should be lowered.”
“That is certainly my personal view of what should happen. We can discuss it again in the Executive Office, but it is certainly my view that that power is something that we should have. We should have control of the maximum number of powers that have an impact on our lives here and on the people whom we represent, so I concur with that. <BR /> <BR />You were speaking about young people and 16-year-olds. Over the past two weeks, I think every Member in this Chamber has brought young people in here for work experience. That is a fantastic thing that we all should encourage.”
“It is not strictly within the remit of our Department, but I will give you my view of votes at 16. I believe that voting should be expanded to young people. They are well in tune with what they need and what they want. Is that not what politics is about? It is about voting for change and getting the opportunity to have your say on something, so I would like to see the voting age extended. On a party political basis, that is something that I campaign for and I regularly engage on with the Electoral Office and the powers that be in electoral law.”
“We only have one more week left of the Assembly session, so it will be September before we are able to bring that forward. It is a piece of work that has been ongoing for some time and we will probably be able to bring it back very early in the new political season — if you want to call it that — from September.”
“You are right that two thirds of the world are going to the polls. That is some change in one year. Who knows where we will be by the end of this year with the changes that are afoot? Our international relations strategy has to reflect where we are at and where we are targeting. In a post-Brexit world, with access to both the British and EU markets, what markets does that open up for us, for example in manufacturing? We have to reflect that in our international relations strategy, which will be embedded in a new programme that we bring forward. We will probably make a statement to the Assembly on that at some point in future.”
“I am very happy to talk to our Economy Minister on any engagement that has he has had. I have engaged with Bombardier in the past — obviously, now it is Spirit AeroSystems. As I have said, it is a major employer, so let us see what we can do to support it.”
“That is a very current story in the media and is about a major employer, so we need to work with the industry and with the business itself to see what is within our remit in terms of support. The business is a big employer in East Belfast, and I respect that. We have not had any direct correspondence on the matter yet, but I am sure that that will come, given that it is a breaking story.”
“I will certainly take that back to our office. We can discuss how exactly the cup is supported. If there are other areas that we need to look at, I would be happy to do that.”
“I absolutely concur with the Member. I know that the House was earlier debating opportunities for our young people. That is a great example of an opportunity for our young people to compete with people from across the international community on the sporting field. It is a really positive experience for so many people. I hope to have a chance to be there for some part of it at some stage when it comes here. I could not concur with you enough about what it means. It is about investment in the north-west, all the visitors that it brings, the legacy of sport and investing in our young people. It is absolutely positive.”
“Let us continue to work together to resolve any issues. I will not make up policy on the hoof on behalf of the Executive, but I will certainly continue to pledge my support to working with Belfast City Council to find the solutions that will allow us to make Belfast the most vibrant city that it can be so that we can attract visitors, as we do in great numbers. It is about working with the retail sector, the hospitality sector, the tourism sector and across the board to make it the best place that it can be. I will not be found wanting on that.”
“It is about creating a night-time economy and a daytime economy, where homes are built and we can accommodate the huge number of students that we have. There is huge potential in that. We should focus on building up those positives and dealing with the challenges.”
“We should all be passionate about trying to lift up all our city centres, communities and high streets. The Executive have done work on that in the past. It is important that we send out a positive message that Belfast is very much open for business and that we have some fantastic innovative businesses in our city centre. However, there are issues that need to be resolved. I note the recent appointment of the night-time czar, which is a great addition. You will know that the responsibility for regenerating the city centre comes under the direct remit of the council. Our Department and, I am sure, every other Department will be more than happy to continue to promote that positive message about Belfast city centre regeneration, including on housing projects and city centre revitalisation.”
“It aims to create better life choices for young people and delivers interventions focused on combating child criminal and child sexual exploitation. Our delivery partners and officials work closely with the statutory agencies with lead responsibility for those matters.”
“We are determined to build a safer society free from the negative influences of paramilitarism, criminality and coercive control. We are doing that through a number of initiatives that work to protect children and young people from exploitation by paramilitary and criminal gangs. That includes projects such as the planned interventions programme funded through T:BUC, which provides positive alternatives for our young people at risk of becoming involved in antisocial behaviour, sectarianism and recruitment by paramilitary gangs. In addition, the Communities in Transition project, which is part of the tackling paramilitary activity, criminality and organised crime programme, delivers projects that raise young people's aspirations.”
“Again, I will ask junior Minister Reilly to answer the question.”
“I ask junior Minister Reilly to answer the question.”