Mark Durkan
Foyle · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“That review involved an extensive engagement exercise with charities, regulators and funders, aimed at creating a more modern and proportionate regulatory system.”
“When the review was commenced in 2021, many organisations were still in the midst of responding to the pandemic. Since then, they have faced a succession of new and evolving challenges. The ending of European funding programmes, on which so many in our communities relied for decades, has left a significant gap.”
“<BR /> <BR />The broad principles behind the Bill are sensible. The changes will modernise charity regulation, strengthen the Charity Commission's ability to intervene where misconduct or mismanagement occurs, improve information sharing and, importantly, reduce unnecessary red tape, particularly for smaller charities with limited adminis…”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak today. Before turning to the detail of the legislation — there will not even be that much detail in the debate today at Second Stage — I pay tribute to our charity sector. Across every constituency, charities provide support that changes and saves lives every single day.”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst the SDLP supports legislation that removes unnecessary bureaucracy, we should not kid ourselves that administrative reform alone will secure the future of charities and organisations in the voluntary and community sector.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. Like other Members, I welcome the fact that we have reached this point. There seems to be consensus among Committee members and, I am sure, all Members that the introduction of these measures will save lives, which begs the question of whether the 10-year delay in introducing the measures had an opposi…”
The complete record
Every one of 3,938 lines we hold for Mark Durkan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 79.
“I thank the Minister for the statement. It is vital that we maximise the uptake and impact of any available funding across all our constituencies and communities. What measures will be put in place to ensure fair geographical distribution of the funding — you will not be surprised to hear me raise that, Minister — and fair distribution by community background? What checks and balances will be in place to ensure value for money as well?”
“<BR /> <BR />The First Minister seems to think that if you say something often enough, it will become reality. That is not a fact. We are far from thriving, but we will continue to work, we will continue to fight and we will continue to overcome.”
“Funding has been stripped from the Northlands centre, and the Minister of Health has yet to meet that organisation. Football clubs across the north-west have been strung along for years with the promise of funding from the Northern Ireland Football Fund. They have been handed the grand sum of zero pounds, but sure, "The north-west is thriving". <BR /> <BR />Homelessness in Derry has doubled in the past decade. We are a housing crisis hotspot, with £6·5 million spent on temporary accommodation last year, but we are "thriving". My constituency has the highest unemployment rate, the highest claimant count, the highest household overcrowding. Derry City and Strabane ranks 357th out of 359 UK council regions for quality of life. How, then, is it that we are "thriving"?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Executive have ignored calls to save our crisis intervention service, despite the fact that we have among the highest statistics for suicide on these islands, but sure, "The north-west is thriving". <BR /> <BR />When Derry jobs were cut at BT, there was no intervention to save them. Staff were let go, or the "lucky ones" offered roles in Belfast. In recent weeks, thousands of new jobs have been announced in Belfast. For Derry, nothing, nowhere near anything in that stratosphere. That is not regional balance: that is the exact opposite, but sure, "The north-west is thriving". <BR /> <BR />One in five children across the North lives in poverty. That is a disgrace in itself, but in Derry, that rises to one in four. The addiction centre promised under New Decade, New Approach has not been delivered.”
“The response from my constituents in the interim has been one of disbelief. <BR /> <BR />We do welcome any positivity for Derry. Last week, we welcomed four Ministers to mark the start of work at the DNA Museum, but let us be honest: we are not thriving. We are barely surviving, and we are surviving despite the Executive, not because of them. If anything has happened, it has at least shown the public how detached the Executive are from reality. <BR /> <BR />This week, Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company, one of our flagship arts organisations, will close its doors. Arts investment in the west is woeful. The legacy of the City of Culture has never been built upon, but sure, "The north-west is thriving".”
“Last week in the Chamber , the First Minister said:”
“I am glad to have received some clarification from the Minister. Obviously, the consultation is ongoing, but will he elaborate on which AS levels would still be available and acceptable to the CAO?”
“Rather, they are asking for a pay packet that helps them keep the lights on, a roof over their head and food on the table for their children. <BR /> <BR />As Mr Butler said, today's ask is not optional. It is long overdue. If it does not come, with our health workers left with no option but to strike, the Executive parties, which would not prioritise this pay increase, dare not land on the picket lines to pose for pictures while holding placards.”
“Otherwise, as has happened before, some staff will see no benefit from the increase when it eventually arrives. <BR /> <BR />Our health and social care system is only as strong as the people who staff it. We are losing nurses, specialists and porters to burnout and to significantly better pay opportunities elsewhere, and no longer just to Liverpool or London but to a couple of miles down the road in Letterkenny. If we are serious about rebuilding our health service, tackling waiting lists and improving patient care, we must start by valuing our staff. Fair pay is not a luxury but the foundation on which the health service stands. Let us ensure that the staff, who give us everything and are the lifesavers and the caregivers, are finally given in return what they deserve. They are not demanding the impossible.”
“When these increases inevitably arrive, having been delayed and delayed, the way in which payments are made will impact on the lowest-paid staff: those who are on universal credit. Too many of our lowest-paid staff will see any additional award that they get in a lump sum clawed back, almost pound for pound, through the universal credit system. That money is given with one hand — eventually — but the delay in its being taken back is not quite so long. If we truly value those workers, we cannot allow that to happen, so I urge the Minister to work with colleagues to engage directly with trade unions and, crucially, the Minister for Communities. There must be a way in which to ensure that the pay award can be delivered in instalments or in a manner that prevents it from being swallowed up in universal credit calculations.”
“They bring humanity to a system that is not just creaking at the seams but cracking down the middle. The comfort that they bring to patients and their families during their darkest days is invaluable. I am acutely aware, however, that our gratitude is not enough. If it were, our health service would not be losing staff to burnout or better-paid jobs elsewhere, be those in the private sector or in other jurisdictions. Staff need fair pay and respect, and that should be reflected not just in rhetoric but in their pay packets and in their purses and wallets. They are the backbone of society, and it is a disgrace that the Executive continue to delay funding for what is a crucial and critical pay award. <BR /> <BR />I want to raise another issue.”
“First and foremost, I put on record our deep gratitude to and admiration for our health heroes. They are the people who keep our system afloat and keep our citizens alive in the most difficult of circumstances. They are overburdened, undervalued and underpaid, yet, day in, day out, they continue to provide stellar care. They deserve fair pay, and they deserve it now, not after months and months of political wrangling and "pass the problem" being played around the Executive table. <BR /> <BR />I had reason to visit Altnagelvin Hospital's emergency department recently, and what I witnessed was pretty chaotic. I saw a team stretched to breaking point, with queues down corridors and staff under immense strain and pressure, yet their professionalism and compassion shone through. That chaos is their daily and nightly reality.”
“I certainly did not slur any officials, nor did I slur any clubs. <BR /> <BR />Obviously, any and all clubs that were unsuccessful will be unhappy, but there is a consensus across all clubs and communities that Institute and Ards have been particularly hard done by in the process. What plans are there to help those homeless clubs?”
“Did the Minister have any discussion with the Finance Minister in advance of his announcement on the Northern Ireland Football Fund, which over-plans by some £50-odd million? When did he inform his colleagues of the content of that announcement?”
“Those ensembles have played a vital role in music education, particularly in developing young voices and fostering a love of singing for generations to come. We are truly privileged to have a choir of such calibre representing Derry and, indeed, the country. I congratulate everyone involved with Codetta on this remarkable milestone.”
“Its accolades are as impressive as its itinerary, which goes from live broadcasts on television and radio to recordings and standout performances at the opening and closing nights of the Proms and even 'Sports Personality of the Year' when it was broadcast from Belfast 10 years ago to an audience of over eight million viewers. Codetta has earned recognition and won awards across the global choral stage. However, I maintain that Dónal Doherty's greatest musical achievement was managing to get a few notes out of me when he taught me recorder at St Columb's College. <BR /> <BR />In recent years, Codetta has expanded to include junior and youth choirs, nurturing young talent and enriching the musical life of our region.”
“As many of you will know, my home town of Derry proudly carries the title "City of Song". Few ensembles encapsulate that spirit more than the choir Codetta, one of our most distinguished musical institutions. Codetta is celebrating a remarkable 25 years of singing together. Under the expert direction of Dónal Doherty, Codetta has flourished over the past 25 years, earning widespread international acclaim. Such is the dedication of its members that many travel home to Derry regularly from Belfast and beyond for weekend rehearsals and performances. <BR /> <BR />Codetta has performed and competed at the highest levels across Europe. There have been notable appearances in Washington DC and Mexico, where it brought its talent and voice and represented us across the Atlantic.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“As the Minister outlined in his response to his colleague, that type of error is mercifully rare, or at least reports of that type of error are, but it clearly does happen. Will the incident perhaps inform a more lenient approach from the Department in instances in which people claim not to have received correspondence but the Department insists that they have?”
“The delay in the development of the Meenan Square site by TEO facilitated further bonfire activity on the site over the summer. Hopefully, we will see progress there in the near future. While that might address where the fires are, we also need to address what is on them. Will TEO finally act on the FICT recommendations and introduce a framework that safeguards public safety and prevents the cycle of hate and lawlessness every year?”
“The Member is correct: we often hear that condemnation, which, of course, is to be welcomed, but we need to move beyond condemnation. We need to see action. What actions does the Member think that we need to see taken?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I cannot comment on the lack of comment from anyone else. However, the Member will be aware — his councillor colleagues who sit on the council's bonfire working group certainly will be — that there had been an agreement in place not to make any public comment on the bonfire in the Bogside. That was initially broken by Gary Middleton, and Sinn Féin responded. There was subsequently public condemnation and criticism from me and my colleagues.”
“We might think that no one watches what happens here, but what happens here filters out and across our communities, so I say this to the leadership parties: stop hiding behind non-binding motions and excuses, and start leading.”
“It also has to be about what we are going to do, although the motion does not set out what exactly that should entail. We want a society in which culture is celebrated with respect, not weaponised with hate. Culture should bring people together, not drive them apart. That requires action and real political will across the Chamber.”
“That takes skill and graft. For them, the bonfire is a project: a claim to belonging in communities where opportunities are scarce. <BR /> <BR />Let us therefore eradicate the harmful elements of bonfires: the pollution; the damage to the environment; the damage to community relations; and the race to the bottom. Rather than condemn all those young people, harness their skills. Create apprenticeships and employment opportunities. Give them purpose, pride and a stake in their future, because, let us be real, that cohort of young people has been let down time and time again, and they continue to be by this Executive, leaving them ripe for exploitation by unsavoury criminal elements. <BR /> <BR />Today cannot be just about what has not been delivered.”
“I will not. I have only an extra minute, Pádraig. <BR /> <BR />Residents who want only to live in peace and safety are forced, year after year, to contend with bonfires that put lives at risk. The SDLP would prefer to see more alternatives, and fair play to those communities that offer so much in that regard. Ultimately, and I make no bones about it, we would like to see an end to bonfires. Clearly, we are nowhere near there yet. I do, however, recognise their significance, particularly in some of our most deprived areas. They are bound up with identity, a sense of belonging and community pride, as odd as it sounds, but let us not dismiss that pride, especially among young men who spend weeks and months designing and building those structures that, before they are marred with grotesque images and flags, are pretty impressive.”
“Absolutely. Any implementation plan would therefore have to take the new legislative requirements into consideration. <BR /> <BR />In the meantime, good, decent people, who just want to celebrate their traditions, however they do so, are being let down by a lack of leadership.”
“When we — the SDLP in opposition — sought to amend the motion to include what, I believe, was a very practical call for the First Minister and the deputy First Minister to bring forward a full FICT implementation plan, the amendment was not accepted. What we are left with is a motion that calls on no one to do anything. Mr Beattie referred to its vagueness. That absolves Ministers of responsibility. Paula Bradshaw rightly identified the collective nature of that responsibility. <BR /> <BR />I fear that debates such as this do not do anything to tackle sectarianism. Rather, they serve only to stir the tribal pot.”
“Such displays hold no place in our society. Homes and hospitals were put at risk. The environment was choked with toxic fumes. That cannot be defended. It is neither tradition nor something to be celebrated. <BR /> <BR />Part of the problem — the elephant in the room — is that our leadership parties continue to peddle division. They stoke hatred when and because it suits them. They thrive on tribal tension, while ordinary people are left to live with the consequences of intimidation, fear and violence on their doorstep. Culture is not something to be feared, nor is it something to be weaponised. It is something that should be shared and respected. <BR /> <BR />The motion rightly notes that FICT set out a framework to deal with the issues, but the point to make is that there is still no implementation plan.”
“A decade ago, during my time as Environment Minister, I tried hard to bring forward licensing proposals to deal with bonfires. It was about striking a balance, protecting communities from the very real dangers of these fires while respecting the cultural significance that they still obviously hold. I stand over that principle, but culture must never be a shield for lawlessness or a licence for hate. The political will was not there 10 years ago, and I fear — it is obvious — that this place has gone backwards since. What we witnessed this summer in many areas was not culture but an orgy of hate, of racist and sectarian displays and of despicable personal threats. I offer my support and solidarity to those whose names or images appeared on bonfires. I have been there myself, so I know that it is not pleasant.”
“Thank you, Minister, for giving way. Apologies for intervening in the middle of your winding-up speech. I have just vacated my seat on the Committee. I will, however, retain a keen interest in this area of work. I welcome the legislation. <BR /> <BR />The changes to the homeowner flood protection grant scheme are welcome, as are the changes to the criteria to make it more accessible to people. An issue, however, that I have heard raised on numerous occasions — I anticipate that this has been replicated across constituencies — is whether the changes will apply just to private homeowners. What about social housing landlords? Will there be scope for the likes of the Housing Executive and housing associations to apply to DFI for assistance to put measures in place to protect their tenants?”
“I thank the Minister for the statement. We welcome any and all investment in sport. The fund should inspire and empower aspiring sportspersons to realise their potential and dreams and help to create a new generation of Olympic heroes and elite performers. Even more importantly, it should increase and maximise participation across a range of sports, with all the benefits that that brings. What steps will be taken to disseminate information, encourage applications and ensure a fair geographical spread of the funding?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, you cite a staggering rise in demand for SEN provision. The current statistics and the projected need are eye-watering. The fact that there are children and families behind those statistics is heartbreaking. Why has your Department — I am not blaming you — been caught in a cycle of emergency planning, rather than anticipating and preparing for that growth years ago?”
“As a seasoned ticket holder, I am very disappointed for Derry City. As a Foyle MLA and a football fan, I am devastated for Institute. Will the Minister publish in full the options and all advice and recommendations that he received from his officials before he made the decision about how many projects to take forward in each tier? It is a decision that ensured the exclusion of Derry City, which scored fourth highest overall and has a shovel-ready project. Other clubs scoring much lower and nowhere near ready have been funded. How does that balance with his claim that he chose this way forward to ensure that the budget can be spent and to avoid further erosion of its value, let alone show anything but blatant disregard for regional balance?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Earlier, he mentioned health inequalities. Although poor mental health does not discriminate, it is much more prevalent in areas of high deprivation. Does the Minister recognise the dire need for the Western Trust, where there are the fewest psychiatrists, to receive funding to employ more psychiatrists in order to ensure that the people there get the service and support that they require? He referred to some of the recommendations that are being implemented. Can he be specific about which of them will boost the workforce in Derry?”
“The SDLP is demanding a VAR-like review of this diabolical on-field decision, and we will be canvassing cross-party support for such a review, be it through a petition of concern, the Communities Committee or the Executive. This cannot lead to accusations of delaying a process that has already been disastrously delayed by being used as a political football and by five years of Assembly collapse. The Minister himself has conceded that funding will not be allocated until late next year and that several of the successful projects will probably never even come to fruition. This decision cannot stand. Derry clubs deserve better. We all deserve better. We all demand transparency.”
“However, he will clamour for credit from those who are content. While the Minister will point to the application criteria and the assessment process, how can he expect us or anyone to believe or accept that he had no say in how £36 million of public money is to be allocated? Remember, this is the same Minister who is spending public money to challenge another Minister in the Executive over spending £150,000. <BR /> <BR />This is £36 million from the Executive's Budget, so it is right that MLAs should get clarification and assurance where there has been understandable consternation. Given the Minister's having suggested that he hopes for money in the future, it would be a naive dereliction for MLAs not to scrutinise criteria, weightings and their working application.”
“There is a lot of disappointment and anger, although not a lot of surprise, across the football fraternity and beyond in the north-west at the Communities Minister's announcement last week on the Northern Ireland Football Fund. The decision not to fund Derry City Football Club and Institute Football Club has caused cross-community consternation and concern and makes a mockery of the claims of regional balance in the Executive's Programme for Government. <BR /> <BR />It was a political decision that coincidentally, was made in the week in which the DUP leader threatened funding for Derry. Since that announcement, which should have been made in the Assembly, we have heard Minister Lyons do his best to distance himself from it wherever clubs have been disappointed: "It was an independent process. It was nothing to do with me".”
“While we delay, the crisis deepens. Suicide rates are three times higher in our most deprived communities. In places such as Derry and Strabane, where poverty, housing collapse and lack of opportunity weigh heavily, mental health and addiction services are either buckling or disappearing altogether. It is a shameful and oft-quoted fact that the number of lives lost to suicide since the Good Friday Agreement has now surpassed those lost during the Troubles. Bombs and bullets no longer do the most damage here in Northern Ireland: mental illness, substance misuse and suicide do. These are preventable deaths, but tackling them requires urgency. It requires us to look beyond sticking plasters and commit to early intervention, sustained funding and urgent cross-departmental action.”
“Suicide prevention is shamefully absent from the Programme for Government. Protect Life 2 and the mental health strategy were launched with great promise yet remain chronically underfunded, under-scrutinised and under-delivered.”
“I worry deeply for our young people who are drawn into phones and algorithms that do not just entertain but exploit their insecurities and vulnerabilities. The algorithms feed them content that is designed to make them feel smaller, more self-conscious and more alone. Research shows us that heavy social media use is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression and poor self-esteem among young people. We must work with other legislatures to regulate the platforms and safeguard the vulnerable. <BR /> <BR />Technology is a relatively new factor in this multifaceted issue, but we must also face the shameful reality of political neglect.”
“Tomorrow is World Suicide Prevention Day. It is a day when we reflect and remember the people whose lives were cut short by suicide. Those people are not just statistics; they are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. However, the Executive seem to have become desensitised to that fact. In 2023, 221 people died by suicide, which is an 8% increase on the previous year. That is 221 more empty seats at dinner tables and 221 more families who have been shattered forever. Yet, that devastating loss barely registers in the Chamber, let alone sparks the action that it requires from the Executive. <BR /> <BR />We live in a time when the loss of the art of human connection is more evident than ever.”
“The dire situation is a direct result of the Executive's failure to plan ahead, to properly resource our schools and to give SEN staff the fair pay and recognition that they deserve. Instead, every year, we have the same sticking-plaster approach. It is time to rip off the Band-Aid and treat the problem before any more children are left scarred by the system. We have to do better. Early intervention and timely support must be the foundation of how we support children with additional needs and their families, because every child deserves the chance not just to survive in our education system but to thrive in it.”
“Both amendments reflect real concerns from the coalface. We support those calls, which reinforce the same basic point: SEN provision cannot function without valuing and resourcing the people who deliver it.”
“We have seen that story on repeat: parents fighting the system and burning out while children pay the price, only to face another cliff edge, as others have mentioned, when the child reaches the age of 19. The Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) could not have put it more plainly in the 'Too Little, Too Late' report when it said that our system has failed to plan ahead, failed to listen and failed to act with urgency. As one parent told the commissioner:”
“Too many parents feel blamed for school avoidance when, in truth, their children's needs have often simply not been met. I recently spoke to a mother — many of us will have many similar stories — who told me that, from the very start of her son's education, she knew that he needed extra help. Yet the diagnosis that, she knew, he needed did not come until he was practically finished primary school. At every turn, there was a hurdle, such as waiting lists and delayed assessments, and, while the system stalled, her son lost years of required additional support. When a placement was secured, it was simply a stopgap. He was placed in a class not because it was the best option but because it was the only option.”
“Despite their passion and vocation, many have been forced out of posts that they love. Too often, I have heard about and from dedicated staff who are leaving to stack shelves in supermarkets because they can earn more money with less stress and greater job security. That is a damning indictment of how the system treats those who give so much to our children and, by extension, how it treats our children. <BR /> <BR />Families feel unheard and unsupported. They have told us that year after year. The independent autism reviewer, Ema Cubitt, has warned that "trust has been eroded" through:”
“<BR /> <BR />We also know that demand is only increasing. The EA estimates that, by next year, an additional 1,000 SEN places will be required. Minister, what work is happening now to ensure that those places are available so that we are not back here in 12 months, facing even more chaos and distress for even more families? Inclusion must be more than a slogan. SEN cannot be seen as just an add-on; it must be embedded as a standard across all schools. <BR /> <BR />We also need to recognise the wider impact on teachers and school leaders. Burnout levels are soaring, and the unions have been clear that the lack of SEN support contributes to unmanageable workloads and staff leaving the profession. Our classroom assistants and SEN staff are the backbone of our education system, yet they have been consistently undervalued and let down.”
“The new start that September brings should be a month of promise, maybe not for the Assembly but for the children who are starting a new school or a new school year. For most families, it brings hope and excitement, but, for too many parents of children with special educational needs, it brings only anxiety and exhaustion. That is the exhaustion of a parent who has had to fight every day just for their child's most basic right: an education. It is unacceptable that any family should be left in limbo, not knowing where their child will be come September. We need the clarity that the motion seeks on the number of pupils who have been impacted, because an allocated place on paper means little if a child cannot physically attend. Families deserve certainty, not crisis management year after year.”
“To Eileen and all the Gallagher family I say that your loss is deeply felt not only in your home, not only in our party, but across this island. Tommy's legacy is not just in what he did; it is in how he made people feel: respected, heard and valued. May we carry that legacy forward with pride. Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam uasal.”