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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“This cannot serve as another soulless exercise in political rhetoric and jam tomorrow. I commend the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The deputy First Minister spoke of the infrastructural challenges that we face. We all know of the huge challenges and the cost of delivering major infrastructural improvements and projects. The biggest driver of cost is delay. We clearly need to improve our delivery. An infrastructure commission could have and, undoubtedly, would have a role to play in improving that and reducing the eye-watering overspends that we now seem to shrug off and take as par for the course. However, that infrastructure commission has been sucked into TEO where so many good ideas go to die. <BR /> <BR />The motion is not about pointing fingers; it is about extending an open hand. We want to work constructively to craft a plan that delivers results. What we currently have does not cut it.”
“People want to see a similar commitment to tackle the issues at Mobuoy, which pose a threat not only to the environment but to human health and are a barrier to the completion of the A6 and the economic development of Derry. <BR /> <BR />Ms Bradshaw made important points about tackling division — division that has cost lives, cost money and continues to cost so many opportunities for us to do better. Ms McLaughlin made the salient point about tackling the flying of flags, which is a practical aim and outworking of tackling that division. <BR /> <BR />I have said that people need more than words, but words are important. My colleague correctly identified the wording around the expansion of the university in Derry. The document refers to "up to 10,000 students". We need "at least" 10,000 students.”
“We have been without one for more than a decade, but, of course, we have been without a Government for half a decade. None of what is in the document will be achieved if we go down that road again. Mr O'Toole focused on — or he was beginning to hone his focus on the importance of targets and timelines. He was in full flow before the Chair of the Executive Office Committee interrupted him — not her only well-timed intervention in the past week — but, in doing so, she highlighted my party's consistency in approach. We will always seek to do better, whether we are inside or outside an Executive. <BR /> <BR />Ms Sheerin spoke of water quality and the action plan for Lough Neagh. She welcomed the cross-departmental approach, but the scope of our ambition should not be limited to dealing with just one environmental crisis at a time.”
“People need to see specifics, including a statutory obligation for collaboration across Departments and the effective utilisation of North/South opportunities. <BR /> <BR />The leader of the Opposition has outlined the fact that we are not being negative. You would be forgiven for thinking that I did not get that memo before the debate started, but it is true. It is, of course, worth noting that this is a draft Programme for Government that is now out for consultation, but it is so important that that consultation be widespread, thorough and meaningful and that more than lip service is paid to responses. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP acknowledges and appreciates the positive things in the PFG and, indeed, the positivity of actually having a Programme for Government.”
“There is a commitment to private rented sector reform when we have already witnessed a rowback on previous commitments, including on no-fault evictions, as I raised with the Communities Minister earlier. Managing our water, which is one of the most pressing and historically neglected issues, gets a 38-word mention. That mention encompasses water supply, maintaining infrastructure, addressing pollution and biodiversity loss and preventing flooding, yet there is absolutely no detail on how the Executive intend to address it. <BR /> <BR />I could go on, but I believe that I have painted a clear enough picture. You get the idea. The PFG lacks the bold ambitions and actions that we need to achieve meaningful progress for the people whom we all serve. We need to see specifics.”
“It fails to mention or address the fact that the Executive have not seen fit to fund homelessness prevention in the past financial year. Services are on their knees and facing closure. Service users are on their knees and facing into an abyss. The Programme for Government promises to deliver affordable homes and to bring forward the housing supply strategy for 100,000 homes over a 15-year period, but that promise is made at a time when fewer than 600 new social homes will be built this year, falling woefully short of targets. Addressing Northern Ireland Water issues and their impact on housing development barely get a mention. <BR /> <BR />The Executive commit to tackling poverty, with zero mention of delivering an anti-poverty strategy, which has been 20 years in the making.”
“We have acknowledgement of our ever-growing housing waiting list, increased poverty rates and the need to protect the planet, but we do not have a tangible plan or indication of time frames for any of the priorities that are outlined. <BR /> <BR />While the SDLP and I welcomed housing as a priority in the programme, the PFG merely notes that it will prevent homelessness by:”
“Real leadership demands innovative solutions, not simply pointing to financial constraints as a barrier to progress. <BR /> <BR />Much of what is included is not new or has already been committed to. For example, the £76 million of new money to tackle health waiting lists is, in fact, old money that had been allocated to address red-flag cases, and it will not make a dent in our growing waiting lists. The environment improvement plan is required by law under the climate action plan, and it should have been actioned already, yet that, too, has been presented here as some sort of novel concept and radical aim. Mr McMurray outlined the cost of damage to our environment and pointed out environmental exemplars that we could and should aspire to emulate. However, we have here a practice in acknowledgement, not action.”
“It is rolled out when we seek urgent updates on critical services: "We would like to do it, but, you know, budget pressures". It is akin to that dreaded phrase that no child wants to hear from a parent when asking for something — "We'll see"— and my children hear it frequently enough. Even as children, we understood that that phrase meant no. It was a way to dodge responsibility but not be the person to say no. We think that the amendment does a bit of that, so we will not support it. <BR /> <BR />That is not to say that financial precarity is not an issue. Budget pressures are a huge, harsh reality. We do not downplay the challenges ahead. However, budget pressures cannot be used as a constant excuse for the Executive's lack of creativity.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />After seven months, the publication of the Executive's draft Programme for Government was welcome. However, it quickly became apparent and is becoming more apparent by the day that the document, which should provide a road map for a better, fairer Northern Ireland, lacks any detail whatsoever on how to get us there. The plan is remarkable only in its vagueness, not its ideas. It lacks the ambitious and measurable targets that this place so desperately needs. In the face of deepening crises across healthcare, housing and poverty, the draft Programme for Government is a hollow promise, and missed opportunities echo through its empty shell. <BR /> <BR />The term "budget pressures" has become the tag line of this Executive.”
“While all Sinn Féin Members may not have known the reasons behind McMonagle's departure, surely, when news of his arrest broke, it must have occurred to some Members at least to question how he had ended up in that job and whether the party had given references. The HR manager, who is still a Sinn Féin member, is no longer in the employ of the party. Was the same HR manager involved in the disciplinary action and McMonagle's suspension?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and for that commitment. I will enlighten him a wee bit. I am waiting for further enlightenment myself, but I understand that the delay is due to the discharge of planning conditions. Will the Minister commit to speaking not just to his officials but cross-departmentally to the Infrastructure Minister to make them get a move on and get people into those homes as a matter of urgency?”
“Will the Minister outline exactly how that competition will be judged? What weighting will be given to factors such as housing need and how the lack of affordable housing in an area is affecting other Executive objectives such as the expansion of the university in Derry or the ability to house health workers in any area? Will the bid be assessed solely on profitability?”
“I welcome the statement and commend the Minister and his officials on their commitment to getting to this stage. It has been a long road and an extremely painful one for those who have lost loved ones on the A5 along the way, and I commend all those who have played a positive role in campaigning for change. The Minister has outlined well the rationale for his approach and the phasing of the project, but could he provide an estimated date of completion for the entire A5 scheme?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Has there been any indication from the UK Government that the Budget will include increased funding for housing? What discussions has the Minister had with his Executive colleagues to determine whether, should additional money come here through a Barnett consequential arising from such an announcement, it will be ring-fenced for housing?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, and I welcome the progress on his environmental improvement plan. On how many occasions, if any, has Northern Ireland Water has been prosecuted or fined for the discharge of untreated sewage into the River Foyle, or into any watercourse for that matter?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. A section titled "Patient Travel", setting out supports available for the public, is included in the draft framework. The Minister's predecessor had committed to a review of the hospital travel costs scheme, a review that, in the absence of Ministers, seems to have ended up on a shelf. I have raised the particular problem that the scheme makes no provision for the parents or families of sick children making long and frequent journeys, whose suffering and stress is compounded by financial hardship. Will the Minister update us on the review of the hospital travel costs scheme?”
“<BR /> <BR />Will the Minister expand on the process, which he alluded to in his statement but is not in the document, of his Department taking responsibility for the funding of City of Derry Airport, which is currently provided by Derry City and Strabane District Council? Will the Executive take the burden of funding the airport from the ratepayers of that council area?”
“We very much welcome the statement and the direction of travel outlined in it, particularly the setting of targets for Invest NI to promote regional balance. That is something that my party and people in my city have called for over many years. Something that is not mentioned in the statement but is certainly in the document is recognition of the role of further and higher education. The Magee task force has done sterling work. We need to grow numbers at Magee, not just to or up to 10,000 students but to at least 10,000 students. There should be no ceiling to our ambition.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas.”
“People know, understand and value their work, and it is time that the Executive did the same.”
“Unfortunately, that scheme, like so many others, was discontinued due to funding constraints. If we are to explore more schemes like the mental health support scheme, we must ensure that adequate funding is available to do so. <BR /> <BR />The community and voluntary sector can provide the key that we need to unlock the deadlock that our health service finds itself in. However, it is only through an adequate and stable source of core grant funding that that can take place. I call on the Minister today to reinstate that core grant funding as a matter of urgency. People everywhere and from all backgrounds appreciate the thankless work that the community and voluntary sector organisations undertake day in and day out. They are the best of our society.”
“I ask the Minister to do his best to rectify that and to ensure that no more damage is done, that no more trust is eroded and that all organisations in the community and voluntary sector are afforded equal opportunity to access funding. <BR /> <BR />It is also important for us all not to lose hope. There are examples of successful funding models that have adequately supported mental health services. For three years, the Department of Health ran a successful mental health support fund that brought together 80 charities and organisations that were tasked with supporting people in their mental health and well-being. Not only did that scheme encourage greater collaboration between mental health services but it granted them further funding, which allowed them to carry out their services and provide support to an ever-expanding audience.”
“I am fully aware of the context in which the Budget was signed, after more than a decade of brutal Tory cuts and the long-term scarring caused by the underfunding of the health service relative to our huge level of need, but we will only add salt to the wounds if we do not reinstate the core grant funding to its previous level and evolve the way in which the community and voluntary sector is funded. The current funding scheme is clearly not fit for purpose, and it is right that it be reformed. I know that the Health Minister will take that forward. <BR /> <BR />The scheme's current failures risk souring beyond repair relationships between the community and voluntary sector and the Department of Health or government as a whole.”
“<BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me not to mention the elephant in the room regarding funding, namely the fact that this is the tenth year in a row that a single-year Budget has been agreed, despite the repeated calls and professed support from all parties across the Chamber and from those in the health and social care sector for multi-year Budgets. How can we expect our community and voluntary sector to thrive if we do not give it stable assurances in the form of multi-year funding?”
“If that is, indeed, the case, Minister Nesbitt must appreciate that the preventative approach will be possible and effective only if mental health services receive adequate funding. As the Health Minister's colleagues will, no doubt, articulate, that cannot be a job for Minister Nesbitt alone: the entire Executive must get serious about their approach to the sector. In the newly published draft Programme for Government, the community and voluntary sector is barely mentioned, and neither is mental health. I appreciate that stakeholders are involved in the development of the new core grant funding scheme, but that will come as cold comfort to those left behind in the here and now.”
“From the care provided to young people suffering with their mental health to the support given to those in the later years of their life, the sector plays a vital role. <BR /> <BR />At the publication of the mental health strategy, the Minister stated that he wanted to:”
“It was a huge blow to those organisations, which are the first line of defence against poverty and inequality in communities. I cannot speak to that without mentioning the fact that the cut left Women's Aid NI as the only Women's Aid federation in the UK without state funding. That is unacceptable. We already see other vital community-based services having to close their doors: in the previous debate, I mentioned the Men's Action Network (MAN) in my constituency. We continue to see report after report about the health service calling for a "Prevention first" approach to health. If we are serious about that, we must also get serious about how we utilise and fund the vital services in the community and voluntary sector.”
“Northern Ireland is unlike many other places in Europe when it comes to the devastating and complex nature of mental health issues here. As Members said in the previous debate, our society is still recovering from decades of some of the most barbaric tragedies. It is little wonder that, in recent years, we have still recorded the highest number of people with PTSD in the world. The toll that that takes on our mental health services, not only currently, must not be underestimated. <BR /> <BR />In the absence of effective government delivery from Stormont, our voluntary and community sector has stepped into the breach, providing key services that have become core. However, the cut to core grant funding in 2023-24 had a devastating impact.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I start by putting on record my thanks and the SDLP's thanks for those community and voluntary sector services that provide vital support to all areas in our society, and many of the people from those sectors were present today in the Long Gallery. I particularly pay tribute to the teams behind the mental health services, who go above and beyond each and every day in our communities. Many of you will have met people from some of those teams today at the launch of the Mental Health Policy Alliance.”
“A refusal to enshrine improved mental health and suicide prevention in a new Programme for Government is a refusal by the Executive to take that responsibility.”
“<BR /> <BR />This issue is about so much more than investing in mental health services. It requires a whole-system approach, a system that does not force working families, or any families, to queue for food banks, where children have somewhere to call home and where people are not shifted from hotel to hostel to B&B, unable to put down roots. Building families and societies on such an unstable footing means that an entire generation has been left without the village that they need to raise their children and the support networks from which they can build their lives. Creating a bonded, thriving society requires shared responsibility in communities and collaboration across Departments.”
“One example is the Healthy Happy Minds counselling programme for primary-school children, which Michelle Guy mentioned. It is a tragedy that the programme was cut with seemingly no hope of return. Teachers, parents and children alike felt the positive impact of the initiative. Mandatory mental well-being should be ingrained at an early age. The earlier we invest, the earlier we can empower children with the tools and skills that they need to become resilient adults. That will not only identify issues before they escalate and reduce future strain on the health system but will mean that people will live healthier lives, building the foundation for a healthier, more resilient society — the kind of prosperous and peaceful society that we dreamed of for the peace babies generation.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I certainly agree with his point. <BR /> <BR />It is crucial that we tackle the siloed approach. Collaborative work, involving Departments, the PSNI, the public and local organisations, is the only way to achieve meaningful results for people who are suffering. It is not all bad news. Progress has been made, and that has been referred to today. Like others, I am pleased to see the roll-out of perinatal mental health services across the region and the long overdue recognition of the importance of maternal mental health, helping to build healthier families and stronger communities. We must build on that model across the vast spectrum of mental health need. <BR /> <BR />A few Members spoke about early intervention, which is key. The earlier, the better.”
“Our concern is that, if the amendment passes — we hope that it does not — will we merely be paying lip service again, without any real intention to act, or will we be removing accountability for not acting?”
“Those brave enough to seek support often find themselves passed from pillar to post in efforts to find meaningful and appropriate services and support. <BR /> <BR />The lack of clear targets, comprehensive data and transparency remains a significant barrier to effective care and accountability. It makes assessing needs, allocating resources and tracking progress extremely difficult. I commend, as others have done, the work of Participation and the Practice of Rights's New Script campaign, advocating for these improvements, which would ensure that services are effective and targeted. The amendment would, in our view, remove that accountability from the Executive. If the DUP agrees — it does — with making the prevention of poor mental health and suicide a priority across all Departments, why remove reference to the Programme for Government?”
“<BR /> <BR />There is no mention in the autism strategy of plans to support autistic adults with their mental health. I will no doubt return to that with the Minister to try to establish what autism-specific support we will see for people with autism and to see whether he will work to introduce mandatory autism training for all mental health practitioners. I do, however, accept that this is just one piece of an absolutely massive and complex puzzle. <BR /> <BR />Another vital element of this discussion is the co-occurring conditions of addiction and mental ill health and the need for a dual-diagnosis approach. Both conditions remain a harrowing feature in the lives of so many people here, and it is a cycle that can prove difficult to escape from, especially for those suffering socio-economic disadvantage.”
“Mr Middleton referred to the success of local charity Have Your Tomorrows, and I joined him at the opening of their brilliant new premises on Friday. That is a remarkable achievement, particularly so given that it achieved it without one penny of government support. <BR /> <BR />A key issue that has been touched on is the need for tailored services. One of the areas that I am concerned about — I have raised this before in the Chamber — is the lack of bespoke mental health services for individuals with autism. As we know from the devastating statistics, autistic adults are nine times more likely to die by suicide and autistic children are 20 times more likely to self-harm, yet we still have mental health professionals who are not trained in autism working with autistic people, which is potentially negligent.”
“<BR /> <BR />The escalation both in the numbers and severity of illnesses has been heartbreaking to bear witness to. Those who are at the coalface are buckling under the weight of demand, and I place on record my gratitude for the invaluable work of organisations in my constituency and right across the North and beyond who are shining examples of the approach that we need to take to tackle the crisis head-on. I would start naming names, but I am fearful that omission might lead to offence. <BR /> <BR />Yet instead of expanding government funding to meet rising demand, we see some of those lifeline services shrink or disappear altogether. I recently raised the plight of Men's Action Network in my constituency. That double blow leaves vulnerable people without the support that they desperately need, pushing them further into crisis.”
“It is deeply concerning that, in a time of relative peace here in the North, the number of lives that are lost to suicide now exceeds the number that were lost during the Troubles. While we have moved away from the violent conflict of the past, many now face a silent crisis — a mental health epidemic that continues to claim lives. While the suicide statistics are shocking, they are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the lives that are lost and destroyed due to poor mental health. <BR /> <BR />Fostering reconciliation and true peace is about more than the absence of conflict. It is about creating a society where people feel more resilient and can access help when they need it. It is completely unacceptable that, today, half of the children and adults who are in crisis are waiting longer than nine weeks to access mental health support.”
“I thank everyone for their contribution to the debate. I am sure that there is not one person here who has not been affected by poor mental health in some way or other or even by the scourge of suicide. I am sure that most of us struggle with stuff ourselves, and I also commend Claire Sugden for speaking out this morning about her own issues and for reminding others that they are not alone. We talk about how bad things are, but we should never forget that there is help out there and that people should seek it if they need it. <BR /> <BR />While advocates speak up every day to raise awareness of their mental health battles, their work is not being backed up by adequate financial investment from government.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“It seems as though this is another of these issues: it a commercial operation until there is something positive to announce, and, when there is not, it goes back to being a commercial one. Given the Minister's stated commitment to electric vehicle improvements, will he explain why, 25 months after he announced £1·3 million funding from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles for on-street residential charge point schemes, the tender for that project has not been released?”
“<BR /> <BR />We will support the amendment, as it recognises that the issues require buy-in and cooperation across Departments. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the issues on the Floor today, but people need to see and hear improvement. We need to work harder to close the urban/rural divide.”
“It is clear that planning delays are hampering infrastructure improvements across the board and leaving many areas underserved, but what are the additional barriers to planning? One barrier that has not been mentioned yet is public perception and, I suppose, the view that 5G masts are detrimental to public health. People should be furnished with the full facts as part of the planning process. Some have genuine concerns, while others have been guided by online theories, ironically relying on 4G and 5G coverage to suck them down those rabbit holes, but that is beside the point. What I am getting at is that communication is key, not just telecommunications but communication with the public by Departments and providers.”
“The north-west, which is not entirely rural, ranks even lower than the Shetland Islands and the Isles of Scilly. Given their remote and geographically challenging locations, we might expect those archipelagos to be disconnected, but, once again, the Bann seems to be the biggest barrier of all to equality of access. We need Departments to work together to resolve the issues, but that does not mean absolving DFI of its responsibility, for example on guidance and support to councils.”
“Hybrid working brought significant flexibility in the worlds of employment and learning, offering new opportunities also for people struggling with mobility, through disability maybe, caring responsibilities or location. Mobile connectivity removes barriers and promotes a better quality of life for all and helps us all reduce our carbon footprint. However, many, especially those living in rural areas, have been excluded from the chances afforded by modernity and have been left isolated geographically and by sub-par infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />The North ranks lowest in 4G coverage and voice call coverage for premises, trailing behind other regions. The Derry City and Strabane District Council area has the lowest coverage of any council area and has been revealed to have the worst mobile coverage in the UK.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. <BR /> <BR />Quality mobile coverage has become a tenet of any modern society. Bridging the connectivity gap could prove utterly transformative for rural communities. A report carried out by FarrPoint highlighted the game-changing impact of its 4G sites in the Scottish Highlands as being essential for business, transforming local industries and driving tourism opportunities, education and social inclusion. <BR /> <BR />The past few years have served as a masterclass in the opportunities of mobile connectivity. Many of us, even the older generations, have got a grip, eventually, on new technologies, ensuring that we can stay in touch with loved ones via Zoom calls.”
“I, for one, am fed up with tit-for-tat motions that distract and detract from the issues at hand.”