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 3 of 79.
“<BR /> <BR />The motion recognises that addiction is a complex public health issue. It is an issue wrapped up in trauma, poverty and mental illness — circumstances that can, and often do, leave people vulnerable to substance misuse and dependency in the first place. We need coordinated action across government from every Department, because addiction does not fit neatly into one departmental box. While addiction requires compassion and treatment, there must also be accountability for those who profit from misery. Across communities, families are living with the devastation caused by drugs. Those who sell illegal substances often exploit vulnerability. They target those who are already struggling, fuel dependency and poison communities.”
“Thanks, Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the chance to bring this important motion and address an issue that continues to cast a long and dark shadow over our communities. That drug-related deaths here have increased by nearly 50% over a decade shows the scale of the problem, but that shocking, sad and shameful statistic is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the chaos and carnage caused by drugs in our communities. It is also indicative of the Executive's failure to get a handle on a spiralling situation, whether through providing timely access to support services or proper deterrence in the justice system. Too many lives have been cut short, families shattered, children left without parents, parents left grieving for sons and daughters and communities carrying pain that often goes unseen.”
“<BR /> <BR />The time for monitoring is over. We need clear regulation, robust safety standards, cohesion from Ministers on the issue and the political will to reclaim our footpaths and parks in order to ensure the safety of all who use them.”
“I agree entirely with the Member and thank him for his intervention. <BR /> <BR />Of course, there is the other issue that I mentioned: parental responsibility. We need to educate not just young people, who generally, but not exclusively, are the ones who use such apparatus for nuisance purposes or end up causing a nuisance, but parents as well. We need a public awareness campaign for parents and children alike so that they understand that those vehicles are illegal for road use and are potentially lethal. The buck cannot stop there, however: we need legislative teeth that strengthen police powers to seize vehicles that are being used to terrorise communities. Lastly, as both of us have said, we need to expand the successful pilot programmes that have worked and shown positive results in schools and community hubs.”
“We must also recognise the need for safer, designated recreational spaces for young people. If we want to reduce irresponsible use on streets and footpaths, we must provide proper alternatives. Local councils have a key role to play in identifying suitable sites, investing in facilities and working with communities to create spaces that are safe and supervised. We have seen some successful projects, and my party colleague in west Belfast, Councillor Paul Doherty, has been to the fore on the issue.”
“Where are those measures? The public have yet to see any evidence of them. <BR /> <BR />I referred earlier to tragic fatalities that have occurred, and I fear and feel that it is a matter of when, not if, a similar tragedy occurs here if we do not act swiftly.”
“In February, Minister Kimmins advised me, via an answer to a question for written answer, that the issue of e-scooter use and enforcement had been raised by officials at the PSNI-led silver command meeting and that:”
“<BR /> <BR />I appreciate that today's motion calls on the Justice Minister to strengthen police powers to seize vehicles and to expand pilot programmes across the North. There is a clear responsibility there. However, I acknowledge that there must be a collaborative effort with the Minister for Infrastructure. I have been raising the issue for well over five years, and, in that time, the response from DFI has been to monitor developments elsewhere. The Irish Government introduced e-scooter legislation two years ago. In England, pilot rental schemes have provided a framework for safe, licensed use on public roads. Meanwhile, the North, as usual, sits in something of a legislative vacuum.”
“There is also a strong case for national standardisation. We clearly need safety standards, robust quality checks and mandatory registration at the point of sale. If every e-scooter sold met recognised standards and was linked to an owner, enforcement would be easier, accountability would improve, and unsafe products could be kept off the market. That is why legislative change matters. At the moment, we see the market being flooded with cheap vehicles purchased from sites such as AliExpress or SHEIN. Those products often bypass the safety protocols and regulations that we would expect and demand. That cannot continue. We need to crack down on manufacturers and online marketplaces. If the vehicles are being sold here or used here, they must meet clear safety requirements.”
“<BR /> <BR />I acknowledge the amendment from the Ulster Unionist Party on expanding the use of drone teams and its view that that could help to monitor suspects from above and reduce the need for dangerous pursuits through housing estates, as well as easing pressure on an overstretched police service, and I look forward to hearing more about that proposal from the UUP.”
“Residents bemoan noise late into the evening, reckless driving across shared spaces, muck bombing, damage to property and the intimidation that often comes with that. I have met the PSNI locally on the issue, and it is trying its best, but it is fighting an uphill battle against a tide of unregulated, high-powered vehicles. While enforcement powers exist, officers with whom I have engaged explain that it is nearly impossible and often extremely dangerous to make pursuit on foot and even more dangerous in a car, especially in built-up residential areas.”
“While that ping-pong, dither and delay goes on, the North falls further behind other jurisdictions on much-needed protections. I want to be clear that, when used responsibly and in the right setting, the vehicles offer a great, greener alternative to modern traffic, but the reality on our streets at the moment is far from that ideal. <BR /> <BR />In my constituency, we see it play out daily. I think particularly of the field in Linear Park in the Galliagh area where antisocial scrambler use has caused headaches and heartache for residents for years. What should be a safe, green space for families, joggers and dog walkers has too often been transformed into a high-speed track for scramblers.”
“<BR /> <BR />The situation is perennial. It is starkest in the aftermath of Christmas during the darker evenings. With Christmas comes an annual explosion of e-scooters onto our streets, and we see children, often in dark clothing and without helmets or protective wear, taking chances on vehicles that they just about know how to operate. Parental responsibility has to be a part of any serious conversation on the issue. Parents and guardians should understand and be educated on what their children are using, where they are using it and the risks involved. Too often, the vehicles are treated like toys, when, in reality, they can cause serious injury or worse, and we have, sadly, seen lives lost on this island. <BR /> <BR />We see some reluctance here from Ministers to properly address or take responsibility for the issue.”
“It is clear to anyone as they walk or drive around our cities and towns that the situation with scramblers, motorbikes and e-scooters has escalated beyond a public nuisance to a risk to life. Almost every week, I am contacted by constituents who have been terrified by near misses. They tell me of e-scooters weaving through pedestrians at speed on narrow footpaths. I am sure that many in the Chamber will reference the heart-stopping moment that a child on an e-scooter darts into traffic from behind or between parked cars. There is another dimension that we cannot ignore: the particular impact on blind and partially sighted people and those with limited mobility, who no longer feel safe when they are out walking. Motorists and pedestrians alike take their lives in their hands, as do those who use such vehicles.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“Those voices and those actions have helped to shape the legislation, and those people deserve enormous credit. They have made good and well-intentioned legislation even better. I support the amendments.”
“They recognise the distinct needs of younger deaf people and their families, guardians and carers, while recognising those who become deaf later in life and the support that they and their families may require. <BR /> <BR />Just as importantly, the amendments protect free access for those in the first category while allowing a framework for fees for those in the second. That, to me, strikes a fair balance between accessibility and, importantly, sustainability going forward. I am, therefore, content to support the amendments in their entirety. I thank the officials for their efforts on the Bill and the many campaigners, organisations and members of the deaf community who have brought us to this point. Progress like this does not happen overnight, nor does it happen by accident.”
“A truly inclusive society is not measured by parroting slogans or by words alone. It is measured by whether children have the support that they need in the classroom or whether adults have the support that they need in their place of employment, in their GP surgery or at a hospital appointment. The Bill helps to create that. <BR /> <BR />At Consideration Stage, I spoke in favour of and voted for amendments brought by my Committee colleague Kellie Armstrong. During that debate, I urged or encouraged the Minister and his officials to go back, given his misgivings, which I accept entirely, to work up a sensible compromise. What we have before us today represents that reasonable compromise. <BR /> <BR />The amendments tighten the criteria by clearly defining two eligible categories but do so without creating restrictions or barriers.”
“Do we have a geographical breakdown of those deaths?”
“I asked the Minister some questions for written answer on this issue a number of months ago, and the answer I got back was, "The Department does not retain the data to be able to answer this question". That begs the question — this is not my question here; I will come to it — about whether there is an issue with collating data or sharing data. There is a real question about transparency. <BR /> <BR />I caution the Minister about pointing to a minuscule reduction in the number of deaths compared with the previous year as some measure of success. The sad fact is that there are people who, despite being really sick, do not want to go to an emergency department for this very reason. Given the links with overcrowding and long waits — I have raised the issue of Altnagelvin ED many times —”
“I am trying to digest that information or work out when the money will become available to those who need it. My colleague Matthew O'Toole asked about engagement with oil distributors here. I will come at it from a different angle. Perhaps the Minister can tell me whether he will engage with oil distributors to make sure that the card can be used with local distributors in all our towns, villages and cities, rather than having one or two big suppliers providing right across the North. That is extremely important.”
“I acknowledge the efforts of the Minister to tackle the scourge of violence against women and girls, which needs a whole-government approach and a whole-society approach. Minister, what investment and efforts are being made to rehabilitate perpetrators of domestic abuse in order to prevent or reduce reoffending and reduce the risk primarily to women and girls?”
“Has the Minister spoken to her colleague the Finance Minister to ensure that any new road maintenance strategy is fully funded, and when can people expect to see and feel the benefits of it? Despite the Minister's efforts and the fact that there has been plenty of positive press about them, our roads are worse than ever.”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer. It is 14 months since I asked her an almost identical question, seeking to improve the North's lamentable record when it comes to the delivery of capital projects. However, what I have heard is that there has been little in the way of progress in those 14 months. Is that accurate, and is it acceptable? Is it typical of the Executive that even an initiative to speed up delivery and make it more efficient has been the victim of delay and more delay?”
“— us, as a constructive Opposition, and work with Westminster to deliver for people.”
“— get their act together, take on board the proposals that have come from —”
“<BR /> <BR />I have brought practical proposals to a few Ministers, including to the Minister of Education to vary home-to-school transport costs, have contracts dismissed and make reasonable, deliverable interventions. At the same time, domiciliary care workers who travel from home to home to care for the most vulnerable people in our society are being hit hard by fuel costs. They are being priced out of their vital role, yet the Minister of Health has failed to support them. There has still been no meaningful intervention. It is high time that the Executive —”
“We agree with the Executive that that is nowhere near enough, but the Minister for Communities and the Executive as a whole have failed to bring forward any clear plan or detail about what they will do with that money. While households worry about how to heat their homes, that funding sits unused. That pattern of inaction is not confined to one Department; it runs right across the Government. Sinn Féin has led a campaign for a vote of no confidence in the Dublin Government. It says that the Dublin Government's response has been insufficient. If that is the case, the response of the Executive, led by Sinn Féin, has been completely non-existent.”
“We have not seen coordination, urgency or leadership, but we have seen confusion, delay and far too much finger-pointing. Of course, we in the SDLP recognise that the Executive are not responsible for the crisis and that we are dependent on Westminster for financial firepower, but the Executive have responsibility for protecting people here. However, instead of coming together to act, parties in the Executive have spent weeks arguing among themselves about funding while people outside the Building are simply asking, "When will help arrive?". Even where funding has arrived, we have seen unacceptable inaction. Westminster provided £17 million to support home heating oil users, who are the most exposed to soaring costs.”
“The spike in energy prices was not caused by anyone in these islands, but people here are feeling the pain and paying the price. It is baffling that Mr Buckley omitted to mention the role of his hero Donald Trump in creating and causing the crisis that is causing so much suffering to people here and across the world. We rely more heavily on home heating oil in the North. We have worse public transport, and people are therefore more reliant on their cars to do their daily business. Our agricultural sector, which is vital to our economy, is especially exposed to rising energy and input costs. People here are hit first, and they are hit hard. <BR /> <BR />In the face of that reality, what have we seen from the Executive and the UK Government?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that this debacle, where we have seen vulnerable families used as pawns in political games, is typical of how the Executive do business and highlights a lack of collaboration and collective responsibility between Departments and Ministers? Does he agree that this has also been painfully evident in how the Executive have ducked and dived to dodge any responsibility for the local growth fund fiasco, leaving vital services without funding, valuable staff without jobs and vulnerable people without support?”
“The Member accused others of cheerleading. Does he accept that the conflict that his party is cheerleading is what is causing hardship for people here now, never mind the carnage that it is causing elsewhere?”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, any transition must be managed carefully, and security of supply matters, but slowing the move away from fossil fuels will not protect consumers; it will keep them exposed. The Audit Office has highlighted serious flaws in the delivery of the energy strategy, as Members have said. What is needed now is a clear plan from the Minister for the Economy to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, increase renewable generation, upgrade infrastructure and make sure that the benefits of the transition are felt by the people who are struggling to pay their bills. If we continue to delay, households across the North will keep paying the price.”
“I will not have time, I am afraid, but thanks for your previous intervention. <BR /> <BR />Every time that there is a crisis somewhere in the world, bills rise, because our system is still tied to global fuel markets. <BR /> <BR />On the Sinn Féin amendment, we absolutely understand the urgency with which we need to get support out to people who desperately need it, but that underlines the need for us to move away from fossil fuels. I am no defender of Minister Lyons, but it is unedifying to hear Executive parties and Ministers arguing about who should get the help out. People do not care; they just need the help. Stop passing the buck, and start passing the bucks.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I am not naive to the reality that he outlined, but that reality should not temper our ambition to pursue the delivery of more renewable energy. I have outlined well, as have other Members, why we need to get there. I recognise that the DUP amendment does not dismiss that.”
“<BR /> <BR />The DUP amendment suggests that renewable targets are being pursued in isolation and calls for continued reliance on fossil fuels alongside renewables. That gets the problem the wrong way round. Households are exposed to price shocks because we have stayed dependent on fossil fuels for too long, not because we have moved too quickly towards renewables.”
“Building on that through having better grid connections and shared infrastructure is one of the most practical ways in which to lower costs. That is why the continued delay around the North/South interconnector makes no sense. It is difficult to argue for cheaper energy while failing to deliver the infrastructure needed to deliver it. <BR /> <BR />We also need to modernise the grid. Renewable energy is sometimes wasted, because the system cannot carry it. That is known as dispatch down, as I have learnt today, and it drives up costs for consumers. We therefore need to escalate and accelerate initiatives to capture and use that energy for the benefit of people here. A more diverse energy mix, including offshore wind, bioenergy storage and new technologies, would make the system more resilient and less exposed to global price shocks.”
“Prices rise, support is rushed together and long-term decisions are delayed once the crisis passes. If we want to protect households and businesses, that cycle has to end. We need to produce more of our own energy and build a system that is modern, resilient and properly connected. Northern Ireland has the natural resources to do that. We have strong wind potential, an all-island electricity market and a unique position between the British and European energy systems. Those advantages should make us more secure, but, too often, progress has been too slow. Infrastructure has not kept pace, investment has stalled and key projects have been delayed. <BR /> <BR />Stronger cooperation across this island and across these islands must be part of the solution. The all-island electricity market already improves efficiency and security of supply.”
“At the time of the 2021 census, 54% of occupied households in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area relied on oil-only central heating, while only around 7% had any form of renewable energy system. That tells us how exposed many families still are to fossil fuel prices. When the cost of heating oil rises, people in Derry — people everywhere — feel it immediately, and, for many, there is absolutely no alternative. That situation is not inevitable. Rather, it is the result of slow progress and of a failure to build an energy system that can withstand shocks. <BR /> <BR />Our dependence on imported fossil fuels leaves us exposed to decisions that are taken far beyond these islands. We saw that after the invasion of Ukraine, and we are seeing and feeling it again now. Each time, the pattern repeats itself.”
“The motion speaks to major and ever-growing issues that people are facing across the North, which are the cost of energy, security of supply and the reality that too many households remain exposed when there is instability in other parts of the world. The conflict in the Middle East has, once again, shown just how vulnerable we are. When global prices rise, families feel it in their heating bills, businesses feel it in their overheads and those who are already struggling with the cost of living are pushed even further. That matters even more here, because Northern Ireland starts from a weaker position than most. We already have the highest levels of fuel poverty anywhere in the UK, so price increases hit harder and last longer. <BR /> <BR />In my constituency of Foyle, the vulnerability is very clear.”
“Too often, women still carry the burden when it comes to pregnancy, childcare, caring responsibilities and loss. If we are serious about equality in the workplace, we must make sure that our employment law reflects the real experiences of working people. <BR /> <BR />Today's change is a positive step. I echo the words of the Chair of the Committee in commending the Minister for her commitment to progressing it and previous Ministers who certainly did their bit to get it this far. It shows what can be achieved when we listen to those who speak openly about their loss and campaign for change. The SDLP supports the new rights and will continue to press for a workplace culture that is fair, compassionate and rooted in dignity for everyone.”
“When the law fails to recognise that loss, it adds to the sense that that grief must be hidden, that people should return to work before they are ready and that their pain is something to be managed privately rather than supported publicly. That is why the change is so important: it sends the message that compassion has a place in our workplace law and that the health, well-being and dignity of our workers matter. <BR /> <BR />We should also be honest: this must not be the end of the conversation. We need to ensure that the rights are properly implemented; we need to ensure that employers fully understand and adhere to their responsibilities; and we need to continue building family-friendly workplaces that recognise the realities of modern life, particularly for women.”
“It will be a day-1 right, meaning that workers will not need any minimum length of service to qualify, and the leave can be taken flexibly in the first year after the loss. Just as important is the fact that employees will not be required to provide intrusive medical evidence. They will be able to self-declare, which recognises the deeply personal nature of pregnancy loss. <BR /> <BR />The changes matter, because miscarriage is not an illness but a bereavement and our laws should reflect that reality. People in the House have suffered pregnancy loss. It is far more common than people realise, yet it is still surrounded by silence.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. From April, workers in Northern Ireland who experience miscarriage will be entitled to statutory leave and pay, and that is a significant and overdue step forward. For too long, pregnancy loss before 24 weeks has not been recognised properly in our employment law. Many women and their partners have had to rely on sick leave, annual leave or simply the goodwill of their employer at one of the most traumatic moments of their lives. That was never acceptable. <BR /> <BR />The new regulations will provide two weeks of statutory miscarriage leave and pay, available to both the woman who experienced the loss and her partner.”
“The Minister and the Chair have outlined succinctly and comprehensively the rationale, purpose and function of each individual amendment in group 2. They all tie in together to improve and strengthen the draft legislation. The majority of them, as has been set out, are really the fruits of a thorough, robust and constructive Committee Stage. The Chair has described in detail the Committee deliberations that were the genesis of many of those amendments. I will spare Members and those who are watching repetition of all that. <BR /> <BR />As I said earlier, the SDLP supports this important but overdue Bill, and welcomes and supports all those amendments. We look forward to the Bill's progression through the Assembly's legislative process and its ultimate impact on the ground of opening doors, affording opportunities and enshrining equality.”
“If we are serious about inclusion, we have to include everyone who needs or will need that provision.”
“They provide flexibility to the Department, introduce safeguards around costs and expand the scope of the Bill to include people who would otherwise lose out. We cannot claim to be breaking down barriers with the Bill if we leave some people standing behind such barriers.”
“I am not going to steal her thunder on it. It is bizarre that I am speaking on someone else's amendment. It is very much her amendment, and she will soon explain it, but I support her aim. I do, however, acknowledge the Minister's concern here as well. I encourage him to work with the amendment's proposer, the Committee and the sector to come up, at Further Consideration Stage, with a form of words that is somewhere in between "who normally use" and "who will benefit from using". <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that there has been a discussion about what should or should not be prioritised at this stage, but legislation should set out a clear direction of travel. These amendments do just that.”
“If we are serious about breaking down barriers, those barriers need to be broken down for everyone; not just people who are born into the deaf community but those who come into it later in life. On the subject of sensible approaches, amendment No 3 further addresses that gap by providing more inclusive language that acknowledges those who acquire hearing loss later in life. Taken together, these amendments are relatively minor but extremely meaningful. They recognise that deafness happens for a variety of reasons and that communication needs can arise at any stage of life, and they aim to ensure that the Bill reflects that reality in a way that is both practical and forward looking. <BR /> <BR />I understand entirely where Ms Armstrong is coming from on, and where she wants to go with, amendment No 22.”
“The Bill does not make sufficient provision for those individuals. We hope to have that addressed by the end of the debate. <BR /> <BR />Legislation of this kind should not be framed too narrowly. Amendment Nos 4, 5 and 22 in the name of Ms Kellie Armstrong seek to address the gap directly by extending access to classes to all those who need them or would benefit from them. Amendment No 4 also provides the Department with the flexibility to introduce a fee for those classes on a cost-recovery basis should it choose to do so. That is a sensible approach. The Minister, in his opening remarks, cited low demand as the reason for not wanting or needing to put those changes in the Bill, but has stated his intention to roll out a pilot project to ascertain demand.”