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…”
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“Combined with a combustible mix of people presenting in mental health crisis and others often under the influence of all sorts of substances, it creates a chaotic picture that leads some people in need of urgent care opting not to seek it. <BR /> <BR />The Western Trust has made efforts. Plans for a new emergency department at Altnagelvin have been in the pipeline for some time. The trust does not need us to tell it that the current provision is not fit for purpose. Almost six years ago, we were told that the business case was submitted to the Department for consideration as part of its 10-year capital priorities plan, but the cash to deliver that upgrade was not there, and there was no voice in the Chamber at that time to do anything about it because the Assembly had collapsed. A new business case has been submitted.”
“I should add that the care that our Naoise received and the reassurance that we, as parents, received that night was amazing. <BR /> <BR />Of course, the problems that we see at the emergency department interface are symptomatic of many other problems that plague our health service, not just our hospitals, including a lack of access to care packages to let patients get home, workforce issues and delays in treatment and discharge. Many patients cite referrals from their GP, and others cite the fact that they could not get to see theirs. The issue is much wider than A&E alone, but that is where many of the problems come together.”
“Believe it or not, it was not that easy a decision to make, knowing the pressure that staff and the system were under, but, on the advice of a health professional, we packed our bags and prepared for the long haul that lay ahead. Once there, I spoke with elderly patients who sat on chairs for hours on end, and families who lamented the lack of privacy and dignity as loved ones were treated in hospital corridors or cupboards. There was a look of sheer exhaustion on the faces of overstretched staff as they worked doubly hard again to cover for colleagues who had fallen foul of flu. Every patient to whom I spoke that night, and every person from whom I have heard since, or even before, about their Altnagelvin experience have praised the staff but cursed the system and the set-up.”
“I welcome the discussion and thank the Member for bringing it to the House. I welcome the opportunity to put on record our sympathy with the hundreds, if not thousands, of families who feel failed by the situation at Altnagelvin, our solidarity with the super staff who are struggling day and night to see and care for a steady tsunami of patients and our support for any initiatives to improve the situation and any investment required to do so. <BR /> <BR />Most of us will have borne witness to the huge demand at Altnagelvin. I had to bring my two-year-old son to accident and emergency one night in the run-up to Christmas.”
“<BR /> <BR />With cuts in funding to and the closure of vital projects — I think of the Men's Action Network in my constituency — and the perennial threat to other services, such as our much-needed crisis intervention service, along with the long waits to access support, the valiant efforts of so many in the statutory and community sectors are being undermined. Breaking mental health stigma is about more than raising awareness; it depends on government action to create a society in which mental well-being is valued and supported. We need to invest in and improve mental health services to smash the stigma that is now developing around them.”
“Too many vulnerable people fall through the gaps, and, if the fact that drug-related deaths have trebled in a decade does not underscore the need for a dual-diagnosis approach to mental health and addiction, I do not know what will. <BR /> <BR />There is still a lot of work to do despite the advances that I have mentioned, and, of course, we support the motion. The mental health strategy needs to be fully implemented, but it also needs to be fully funded. The Minister outlined his funding difficulties yesterday, and I am sure he will do so again today. Reducing the stigma will need more than public awareness and education campaigns: it also depends on improved access to proven treatments and work in support of and partnership with other organisations to provide people with the support and safety nets that they need.”
“What happens when a person in the depths of despair drags themselves up to reach for a lifeline that just is not there? They free-fall and often self-medicate or self-harm; they try anything that might help them escape, even if only for a wee while. Some suffer in silence, and others do the opposite, their pain laid bare as they try to numb it with drugs or alcohol. The failure to provide timely, accessible and meaningful support results in escalation, a spiral into addiction and more difficulty in accessing appropriate services. That is where stigma and judgement really do still exist. We need to be able to distinguish someone who is in pain from their destructive behaviour.”
“<BR /> <BR />Over the years, we have seen mental health go from being a niche issue to something that is on everyone's mind and every politician's lips. I remember a time when a school visit would consist of questions about ice rinks and the school curriculum, but now the first question from any group of young people is invariably about the need for improved mental health support and services. People have much less bother talking about mental health — young people certainly do — but what are the Executive doing about it? <BR /> <BR />"Reach out and seek help", is the message that we hear and propagate. We encourage people to take the courageous first step, and society rightly applauds them when they do. However, we do not often ask, "What next?".”
“I welcome the motion; indeed, I welcome the progress that we have made as a society on tackling the stigma around mental health. To be fair, I recognise the role that some in the Assembly have played in that battle. I very much include the Minister in that, from long before he was the Minister. <BR /> <BR />I have had a huge interest in mental health for many years. I am not saying that that by any means makes me an expert. My interest predates but could not prevent my sister's suicide, which, if anything, highlighted to me — we all have experience of this, and Cara has shared hers — the fact that nobody is immune to mental ill health and that just because someone is smiling that does not mean that they are not suffering.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I apologise to you, the Minister and the Assembly for not being in my place to ask my question. I think that it is the first time that that has ever happened.”
“When the Minister is responding to the debate, I would like him to say how he proposes to do that.”
“It is not designed for autistic children, and no research has been completed on how effective it is at supporting autistic children's emotional and mental health. There is no mention in the strategy of plans to support autistic adults with their mental health. The Autism (Amendment) Act states:”
“That is a barrier to autistic people and their families accessing the appropriate level of support and therapy in the first place. Many of the therapies that are used may also be inappropriate for autistic people, including, for example, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Therefore, we need therapies that will be tailored to autistic people's needs and delivered by professionals with expertise in autism. <BR /> <BR />Those concerns and failings have been outlined in Autism NI's petition, which has amassed over 25,000 signatures. It is also shocking that, when we read through the current autism strategy 2023-28, we find that there are no measurable targets and outcomes on how we will address the mental health of our autistic population. The autism strategy mentions an i-THRIVE programme for children, but that is a general programme.”
“In recent years, as we have heard again today, there has been a huge increase in the diagnosis levels of children and adults as the identification and understanding of autism have improved. However, it is unacceptable — we should not and will not accept this — that, with that increase in diagnosis levels, there has not been a similar increase in investment in our autism services. One of those vital services is our mental health service. We have heard today from every contributor about the high incidence and huge impact of mental health problems across our autism community. <BR /> <BR />It is my understanding that our current mental health service and mental health screening tools have been developed for neurotypicals.”
“<BR /> <BR />With the appointment of an autism reviewer in September of last year to oversee the current autism strategy, I hoped to see much better outcomes being achieved by our Department of Health and other statutory autism services. Autistic people and their families deserve a consistent level of service — a consistently good level of service. We need to stop autistic children and adults being pushed from service to service, as that causes avoidable stress, mistrust and anxiety, not just for them but for the entire family circle. Autistic people need to feel seen and understood, not that they are too complex to receive individualised appropriate care, and that is very much what the debate is about today.”
“However, since that legislation was passed, there have been many failings in relation to the efficacy of autism services and the delivery of regional autism strategies over the past 10 years, resulting in the need for and, fortunately, the passing of a second piece of legislation, the Autism (Amendment) Act, which was sponsored by Pam Cameron, in 2022. We cannot rest on the laurels of that legislation. We want and need to be world-leading in services and in support, not just in statute, otherwise the Executive are at risk of making and breaking yet more promises to the autism community. Sorry, folks, but, as Nuala McAllister said, five years with no Executive, no Assembly and no accountability did not help.”
“I have always been passionate about driving forward the needs of autistic people, and I have been eager to ensure that they receive the right supports at the right time throughout their lifetime. As many of you are aware, my SDLP colleague Dominic Bradley successfully introduced the first piece of single disability legislation in the Assembly, the Autism Act, in 2011. That was a landmark piece of legislation and the first of its kind aimed at addressing the huge gaps in the provision of autism services regionally. It was and remains the most comprehensive piece of single disability legislation globally.”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. Everyone recognises the huge positive impact of university expansion on Derry, but we have to make sure that it is managed right and that local communities are not choked by traffic or have their fabric threatened by the demand for accommodation. I welcome the fact that the chair of the task force has set up a public meeting for next month, but will the Minister expand on the efforts of the university and the task force to identify opportunities for new, purpose-built student accommodation?”
“An féidir leis an Aire shóisearach gealltanas a thabhairt go leathnófar ciste forbartha na mionlach eitneach tar éis mhí an Mhárta?”
“<BR /> <BR />We welcome the strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, but it is null and void without the necessary funding to support it. The Executive need to put their money where their mouth is. Existing criminal law must be reviewed here and in Westminster in order to offer proper protection to victims of online abuse, and we will —.”
“If we are to foster a safe, more inclusive space for all, we first need to be mindful that words are combustible. What is said on the Floor or shared online has the power to ignite. Sadly, it is a power more often used and seen for bad than for good. <BR /> <BR />I regret that we will oppose the Alliance Party's amendment. We recognise, as the motion does, that this is a reserved matter, but that is not to absolve the Executive of their responsibility or the Justice Minister of hers. We have heard from Alliance today that the Minister has shown great leadership on the issues. I do not dispute for a second that she has, but you cannot take responsibility for all progress that has been made and, at the same time, seek to be absolved of responsibility for any further progress that is required.”
“I think of the tragic case of Jo Cox MP, which reminds us all of the real-world impact of online hate and urges us to consider the weight of our online behaviour. Eight years on from her murder, little has been learned. Social media giants have not done enough to protect people, and legislation continues to fall short. <BR /> <BR />I stand in solidarity with women across the North, across the world, in the Chamber and across the political spectrum, including, of course, my party colleagues, who have been the targets of horrific online abuse. I commend Cara, the proposer of the motion, who has spoken out so bravely about it. The courage that it takes to step into the world of politics, especially in today's climate, must not be underestimated.”
“Pile-ons from Twitter trolls who thrive on spreading misinformation and use online platforms as yet another avenue for intimidation have become par for the course. Social media is not just the playground of bullies from the far right. While it is encouraging that some prosecutions have been made against those who issue threats and misinformation on social media, legislation has clearly failed to keep pace with a rapidly evolving medium. <BR /> <BR />We need to tackle all forms of online violence — yes, violence against women and girls but also violence against children, society's most vulnerable, who remain inadequately protected within current frameworks. What a person does and says online remains for ever. It can have profound and lasting consequences.”
“<BR /> <BR />That digital harm ultimately stems from the toxicity and violence that is embedded in our society. Social media exposes abuse to a global audience, providing perpetrators with the means to tighten their grip on victims and creating a sense that nowhere and no one is truly safe. All too often, bystanders watch as lives are torn apart online, fuelling harmful behaviours, addictions and the real-time unravelling of human beings. In some cases, there is a deliberate and orchestrated effort to silence and suppress the truth. We have seen that happen repeatedly to victims of abuse who have bravely taken the decision to share their story. Máiría Cahill's case is one that comes to mind.”
“A world in which anyone can impersonate you, steal your image or have you do and say outrageous things would have seemed closer to some sort of sci-fi horror film than to reality just a few years ago. When combined with entrenched misogyny, that technology becomes a recipe for the worst types of abuse and amplifies harm. The use of deepfake imagery disproportionately targets women — over 90% is a staggering statistic — often using their image to create exploitative content. The abuse not only invades privacy but leaves lasting emotional scars. Social media remains a Wild West where harm goes far beyond deepfakes. The anonymity that it provides to some makes it an inherently dangerous arena to be utilised by perpetrators of abuse, whether through the spouting of racist, sectarian or misogynistic rhetoric.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. It is heartening to hear that that high percentage of exemption certificates has been issued. However, only 140 of those dogs were registered in March 2024, and, come the end of December, there were almost 700. Given that increase in the number of registrations in that short period, is the Minister concerned that there might still be a number of those dogs out there that are unregistered? Does he have any plans, in conjunction with councils, to identify whether that is the case and where those dogs might be?”
“I ask the Minister whether it remains the case that the Executive are not in line to get one-off Treasury funding of up to £240 million for the unforeseen and unavoidable costs arising from the PSNI data leak? Does that, along with the pressures that the Minister has outlined, mean that the PSNI's ambition — indeed, it is all our ambition to see this happen — to recruit up to 500 PSNI officers in the next financial year is now extremely challenging, if not impossible?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. In response to an earlier question, the Minister outlined his opposition to water charges and his concerns about mutualisation, which I share. In that context, however, why does the Minister appear reluctant to proceed with the independent expert-led review of Northern Ireland Water's funding and governance, as recommended by the Northern Ireland Audit Office?”
“Not only are the delays there causing traffic problems in the area but potential road safety interventions along the route have been put off and put off because the dualling of the road has been imminent for nearly 50 years.”
“As the Minister is aware, Coshquin is on or off the Buncrana Road. Will he provide us with an update on the long-awaited and long-overdue dualling of the A2 Buncrana Road?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It contains some ambitious targets. He has told us of plans to take money back from trusts that are unable to meet targets. What analysis will there be, or is there, of why trusts are not able to meet those targets? It may be due to staff shortages, for example, in border areas, where the retention and attraction of staff is more difficult. How will the Minister ensure that the approach does not perpetuate those problems and widen the disparity that exists between some trusts and others that are struggling through no fault of their own?”
“The urgency with which we must act to address climate change cannot be overstated, and planning is a key component of that. Has the Minister identified any approaches elsewhere that, if adopted here, would allow for swifter decisions on renewable energy applications and help us to meet our climate obligations?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does she have a time frame for when she expects her study on the cost of doing business to be completed? Today's statement was trailed as being urgent; what businesses need to see is urgent action.”
“The Minister said that we should all encourage people to use public transport, and I point out the improved services to Derry, where all shoppers' needs can be met. The Minister said that having taxis use bus lanes is not universally popular, and he is right. It could slow down buses as well as potentially compromise road safety. When will that come into effect? Will it be for life or just for Christmas? Will it even be for Christmas?”
“In the Minister's answers, he outlined a range of initiatives and interventions by his Department and the Department of Education on this very important issue. In all my time here, I have rarely, if ever, come across a project as well received and well regarded as the Happy Healthy Minds project. Has the Minister been working, or will he be working, with his counterpart in the Department of Education to seek the reinstatement of that vital piece of work?”
“I thank the Minister for the statement, and I look forward to studying the strategy. The strategy must be ambitious, but it must be achievable. Without detail and certainty on the funding of social housing new builds; sustained investment in our water and waste water infrastructure, which is currently stifling development; the revitalisation of empty homes; the empowerment of the Housing Executive to build again; and more resources for planning, this might as well be a letter to Santa. What decisions and commitments have the Executive made on how those vital components will be funded into the future?”
“Its success is core to achieving a greener future on the journey to zero emissions by 2030. Aligning fares on an all-island basis is a simple but necessary solution. The Executive must recognise the tremendous opportunity provided by rail. Making rail the choice for daily commutes means improving accessibility, reducing travel times through high-speed networks, controlling costs and connecting people and places. Failure to act and invest now will hamper future prosperity and hinder our ability to meet our Climate Act obligations.”
“It is about the environment, people and places. Improved connectivity will improve our all-island economy. The Member asked where the money will come from. It will come from addressing the cost of division. <BR /> <BR />Matthew O'Toole spoke of the importance of engaging with the new Minister in the South to further all-island rail. I look forward to the Minister's engagement on that. The Minister spoke of the difficult financial environment in which his Department and all Departments are operating. We recognise that, of course. He outlined some of the bargains to be had on Translink. I encourage the Minister to encourage Translink to do more to promote and raise awareness of those. <BR /> <BR />Without question, rail is the most environmentally friendly transport option.”
“We fully get that we have been hampered greatly by a lack of investment. Peter McReynolds also lamented that lack of investment and the lack of a strategic approach. He then echoed the SDLP's long and loud call for the establishment of an infrastructure commission to oversee all those massive and expensive projects, many of which were later described by the Minister. <BR /> <BR />I come to his party colleague David Honeyford. I will see your grumpy and raise you. He said that our motion was "narrow". I know that Alliance motions are normally sufficiently broad to include motherhood and apple pie. As for his assertion that the motion lacks any ideas, "asinine" was the term that Matthew O'Toole used to describe that. The motion latches on to one idea to make a wider point. It is about the economy — I will stop there.”
“It is a question of fairness, and it is ironic that prices in the Six Counties are going north while prices in the Twenty-six Counties are going south. <BR /> <BR />The Chair of the Committee moved the amendment, which we will support. She pointed to a perceived shortcoming in our motion, in that it does not name every county. However, I remind the House of the very first motion that the SDLP tabled in the reconvened Assembly, which made that call and made specific mention of Fermanagh, as I am sure the Committee Chair will recall. She told us that the DUP does not support unification. That came as no great surprise, but we are happy to support its call for alignment. <BR /> <BR />Cathal Boylan disagreed with the motion's assertion that the North had demonstrated a lack of ambition.”
“He gave numerous examples. Of course, the one closest to home and closest to his heart is that of a ticket from Newry to Belfast costing more than twice the price of a ticket from Dundalk to Belfast. At the heart of that is inequality. Affordable and accessible public transport is not a luxury; it is a necessity. <BR /> <BR />Our inability to address those issues undermines efforts to meet climate obligations and reduce our carbon emissions. Affordable public transport benefits so many people, including students, and so many areas and aspects of society. It will combat congestion in and around our towns and cities, and it will relieve pressure on parking and on the Minister to deliver residents' parking schemes.”
“Since the hourly Belfast service from Derry was introduced in 2017, we have witnessed exponential growth in passenger numbers due, in no small part, to the lobbying of Into the West and others. That is the living embodiment of the phrase, "If you build it, they will come". It stands to reason that if we make public transport more affordable and more accessible, even more will come. Public transport journeys are on the rise, despite multiple fare increases and fairly limited rail networks, which is proof of the public's desire to use more sustainable modes of transport. <BR /> <BR />I will touch on some of the contributions by Members. My colleague Justin McNulty proposed the motion and spoke of the enormous and unequal burden on people who are travelling from the North that is created by the difference in fare structures.”
“Without developing rail and bus routes, reducing costs or even tweaking timetables to bring benefits that will improve public transport and increase passenger numbers, that station runs a real risk of becoming a white elephant. I apologise for any offence caused by Mr McNulty's analogy earlier. Deputy Speaker Aiken thought that it was below the belt. <BR /> <BR />The approach is akin to embarking on a kitchen renovation when you do not have the money to stock the cupboards. We have seen some modest, incremental improvements in rail timetabling, such as an alignment of the Derry to Belfast train schedule with that for the Belfast to Dublin service. That alignment ensures that passengers do not have to wait as long for connecting trains, but more connectivity is required.”
“<BR /> <BR />When I asked the Infrastructure Minister for the year-on-year per capita spend on public transport per council area, the Department was unable to provide the figures. That inability is indicative of the lackadaisical approach to the issue by the Department and/ Translink. If it has not been assessed, it will not be addressed. <BR /> <BR />We have an Executive who prioritise vanity over sanity. At a time when public transport fares are becoming more unaffordable to the average person and further increases are being used as a crutch for revenue raising, we have, as Mr Carroll mentioned, spent £340 million on the Grand Central station in Belfast and £11 million on management fees.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Executive have failed to grasp the significant opportunity offered by public transport. It is ludicrous to include "Planet" as one of the key missions in the draft Programme for Government yet not have improving the affordability of and accessibility to public transport as a prominent and defining feature. Even more frustrating is that one of the key components of the Finance Minister's revenue-raising plan is to increase Translink's travel fares even further. I hope that I am wrong, but it would appear that that measure is one of very few left standing, given that the deadline to remove the rates cap for the North's most expensive homes has been missed. I hope that that does not mean that the fare increase will be even more than stated and that commuters end carrying an even bigger can.”
“The disparity in action is perfectly exemplified, as the motion highlights, in the ludicrous fact that rail passengers travelling from Belfast to Dublin pay double the price that those going in the opposite direction pay. <BR /> <BR />During her tenure as Infrastructure Minister, the SDLP's Nichola Mallon implemented two separate freezes on public transport fares during a period of significant inflation in an attempt to alleviate financial pressures on people but also to drive greener modes of travel. As caretaker Minister, Minister O'Dowd outlined his intention that fares would also be frozen the following year, but, a short time later, in the absence of an Executive thanks to the DUP, passengers were hit with a 7% hike. In fact, we then saw three separate hikes in just 15 months.”
“Indeed, the draft Programme for Government is notable for its lack of commitment to, and detail on, future spend or commitment to public transport. Treasury figures show that public spending on public transport per person in the North is the lowest across UK jurisdictions, with just £193 per head spent here compared with £465 per head in England and Scotland. That is astounding. While Governments elsewhere are driving investment towards public transport and passing on improved services and savings to passengers, the North continues to lag behind. In the South, they are full steam ahead, with record public transport investment and record passenger numbers.”