Stewart Dickson
East Antrim · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Minister, you will have noted that the Government recently announced a VAT cut for some family expenses for a range of activities over the summer. That is perhaps a change.”
“Many do not know how to apply; others do not even realise that the opportunities exist. If the process itself is a barrier to participation, it is really not open to all.”
“I was born in 1950 in Thorndale House, which was one of the homes that is named in the legislation. I was born to married parents, and Thorndale House was a maternity home. It was where you went to have your baby in 1950 on the Antrim Road. My mum and dad went there, I was born and, a few days later, I left with loving parents.”
“I agree with Mr Brett: amendment No 6 is important because it will deal with persons who refuse to provide information or evidence to the inquiry. Amendment No 8 to clause 20 is a tidying-up amendment that will allow the Committee to make interim reports, which will be of benefit to the inquiry process.”
“That is why I want the inquiry to succeed and why it is vital that it succeeds. That is why it is important for us to see that cruelty in the full glare of a public inquiry. That is why it is important that the scheme goes through without further delay. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I place on record my thanks to the Committee Chair.”
“The Assembly faces stark choices, and agreeing the draft Budget as it stands is not a silver bullet, nor is it sustainable for us to continue in the absence of a Budget. It is vital, therefore, that we break the cycle of crisis and collapse that has been destroying our public finances.”
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“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, you indicated that you are prepared to undertake a review, which housing associations have welcomed. Who will carry out the review, which is to be completed by September 2026, and will it be co-designed with housing associations and tenants?”
“Thank you for your statement, First Minister. How will you ensure that Northern Ireland is best positioned to benefit fully from continued investment in the PEACE PLUS programme? How will the Executive contribute to the work that is being undertaken to develop a successor programme?”
“Let the work be guided by respect, partnership and hope, and let remembrance be a bridge between the past and the future, not a wall between neighbours.”
“That consistency will protect communities, give clarity to public bodies and ensure that what stands in our shared spaces reflects the values of all of us. <BR /> <BR />I again genuinely thank the Members who contributed to the debate this evening. Many spoke with understanding and compassion but, at the same time, withheld their views. We may view aspects of the issue differently, but I trust that we all share the same goal, which is to make remembrance something that helps heal rather than divide. If we can get it right, we can give people confidence that their history is respected and their pain understood and that the places that we share are truly open to all.”
“Sometimes, they are stopped, but they have the tenacity to keep going. It takes a lot of trust between local residents, community leaders and public authorities, but it demonstrates that progress is possible, not impossible. <BR /> <BR />To be clear, the motion is not about forgetting the past but about looking to the future. When communities are supported to reclaim their spaces and to express pride in a way that excludes no one, it strengthens the sense of belonging for everyone who lives there. We have examples from councils that have already developed clear and fair policies for memorials. Their experience can guide the Executive as they develop a consistent approach across Northern Ireland. That is the leadership that we are looking for in the debate.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many in the Chamber have spoken about real and positive re-imaging programmes that have taken place. I have seen them in East Antrim and in my home town of Carrickfergus. We have seen how they can work. We have seen peacebuilding through the arts and the Re-imaging Communities programme funded by the Arts Council. The Special EU Programmes Body and others have shown what can be achieved when communities take the lead: not when they are being led, but when they take the lead. Across Northern Ireland, we have seen gable walls that once carried divisive symbols being transformed into public art in order to tell a different story: a story that shares our history. That takes a lot of hard work and determination, and some communities take steps forward to re-imagine and replace murals on walls.”
“There are, however, also those that were placed without permission or that carry imagery that others find painful or disputed in their content or context. The aim of the motion, which, I think, has been embraced in the Chamber, is not to erase anyone's memory or to rewrite history but to bring about fairness and transparency and, above all, to care about how we mark the past. <BR /> <BR />In the first instance, the motion is a call to deliver an audit, which will help us understand what exists and under what authority, if any. That will then allow us to take another step in the conversation. It is about guidance that will help us understand and ensure that anything that is created in the future is lawful, respectful and agreed. It is about a re-imaging programme that will support communities that want to make positive changes themselves.”
“<BR /> <BR />In every community, there are people who still carry the pain from the loss of a loved one, and the right to remember those who have died is something that we should all respect. It is deeply personal, as some described, and it needs to be treated with sensitivity and dignity. The motion is about how we do that well. It is about ensuring that remembrance takes place in a way that brings comfort while not hurting the grieving. Our public spaces are spaces for everyone, and they should not be exploited by the symbols of division or control. <BR /> <BR />It is a sensitive issue. Memorials take many forms. Some are roadside tributes to sudden loss, while others are long-standing monuments to events that have shaped our history. Across our towns and estates, there are memorials that mean different things to different people.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. First, I record my thanks and those of Paula Bradshaw to every Member who contributed to the debate. It has been a respectful debate. It has been a conversation and one, indeed, that we may not have been able to have a few years ago in this place or in Northern Ireland. We are on a journey. Phillip said that we should focus on progress, and that, by and large, is what the debate has been about. That journey continues. <BR /> <BR />I thank everyone who contributed to the debate. I thank Paula Bradshaw for proposing the motion; Pam Cameron; Doug Beattie, who told us that he will not oppose the motion, which is welcome; Ciara Ferguson; Sinéad McLaughlin; Deirdre Hargey; Andrew McMurray; Kellie Armstrong; and Matthew O'Toole.”
“Minister, have you been able to identify the sources of pollution in Belfast lough? What action have you taken in respect of those who caused the pollution?”
“— but the very fabric of Northern Ireland.”
“Cathy provided her with food parcels before referring her to a charity to help with counselling. Once her debts were consolidated, she had more money to live on and stopped dreading the letters on the doormat. Cathy understood that leaving the military had destroyed Jacqui's confidence and that the community was key to improving her mental health. She invited Jacqui to weekly meet-ups with other veterans, and it became her safe space. She has since met a new partner, and her life has changed beyond recognition. <BR /> <BR />Supporting our veterans should, can and must be a unifying issue for the Assembly. This is about fairness, opportunity and respect. When we remove disadvantage, we strengthen not just the veteran community —”
“She relished the camaraderie and the travel until, one day, the pressure hit her. It consumed her. Battling depression, she turned to alcohol. Leaving the RAF and taking off her uniform did not take away her problems; it took away her support network. Alone in civvy street, her problems grew. She struggled to find permanent work and took out loans just to survive. With military friends spread far and wide, all those relationships broke down. It was on the day that she looked in her purse and saw that she was down to her last 60p that Jacqui, ashamed and fearful of judgement, contacted the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen’s Families Association. Her caseworker did not judge her. She saw a mother doing her best and in need of urgent help. Jacqui said that Cathy's kindness as her caseworker meant that she opened up about her situation.”
“Helping them settle into civilian life is not just a moral duty; it is a smart economic investment. Veterans do not just need support; they strengthen our workforces and enrich our communities. <BR /> <BR />We should also acknowledge the work of those who are already leading the way. Organisations like the Royal British Legion, the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association, Brooke House and the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations support well-being, provide vital advice and connect the armed forces community to wider society. Their work is living proof that it is partnership, not politics, that delivers real results. <BR /> <BR />Let me tell you about one veteran, Jacqui. She was always destined to wear a uniform and was proud to be in the Royal Air Force.”
“The Defence Committee in Westminster recently found that access to the covenant's support has been a postcode lottery across the UK. That alone tells us that we need to be consistent in delivery and stronger in coordination. The covenant truly works only when every part of government, every employer and every Education Department pulls in the same direction. That is the core of the motion. It is a call for joined-up leadership so that, no matter which door a veteran or their family walk through, they will receive consistent, fair and informed responses. When we open those doors, we must remember what service leavers bring back to our society. They come home, as others have said, with skills in leadership, teamwork, engineering and logistics. They are proven problem-solvers who are accustomed to working to a common goal.”
“We can see that in the Department of Education's pupil premium for service children and the Housing Executive's work on fair access. Those are both positive and tangible steps, and they show that Departments are taking their duties seriously. However, let us be clear: progress is uneven. While some Departments have forged ahead, others are behind, and, critically, we are flying blind. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) estimates that there are between 40,000 and 60,000 veterans in Northern Ireland, yet, without a census question, we are making policy in the dark. If we do not have the data, how can we know whether our measures are truly working or where the most urgent gaps remain? <BR /> <BR />It is not just a local challenge.”
“As my colleague Paula Bradshaw said, the Alliance Party is pleased to support the motion. Indeed, we do so as a party that is proud to count among its members service leavers, veterans and their families. <BR /> <BR />The motion, at its heart, is about fairness and about the simple fact that serving your country should never be a source of disadvantage for you or your family. It is not about asking for special treatment but about recognising the real barriers faced by those who have spent years serving elsewhere when they return home. <BR /> <BR />The armed forces covenant is a promise — a promise that no one who has served should be left behind. We must therefore recognise the progress that has been made. Since the Armed Forces Act 2021, public bodies have had a legal duty to consider the covenant in healthcare, education and housing.”
“The charter prohibits torture, inhuman and degrading behaviour and punishment through slavery or forced labour; the death penalty; arbitrary and unlawful detention; discrimination in employment and in the rights and freedoms that are set out in the convention and its protocol. <BR /> <BR />Let us today mark 75 years of the convention and remember its origins in the aftermath of World War II and the rights and freedoms that it protects.”
“The agreement requires that the rights in the convention be incorporated into Northern Ireland law, a requirement met through the UK Human Rights Act 1998. <BR /> <BR />Today, I highlight the convention's role in safeguarding fundamental freedoms and its critical importance for maintaining justice and democracy not just in Northern Ireland but across the 46 member states of the Council of Europe. The convention protects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of over 700 million people. It protects the right to life; a fair hearing; respect for privacy; private and family life; freedom of expression; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; and the protection of property.”
“In the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust, he championed the idea of a united Europe based on shared values and human rights to prevent future atrocities and resist the spread of communism. As chair of the non-governmental European Movement, he presided over the 1948 Congress of Europe in The Hague, which called for a charter of human rights and a court of justice. <BR /> <BR />Today, in Northern Ireland, the convention not only plays a pivotal role in securing the foundation of our peace process but, along with the court, was and is integral to building trust in such public institutions as our Police Service and security services after decades of conflict. The convention is explicitly embedded in the Good Friday Agreement.”
“Today marks the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights. That charter was born out of the horrors of World War II, with the United Kingdom playing a leading role in setting minimum standards by which Governments across Europe agreed to abide. That improved respect for human rights across Europe. No signatory state has instituted the death penalty for 25 years, and the convention has facilitated cross-border cooperation on issues of joint interest, such as crime and human trafficking. <BR /> <BR />As a Winston Churchill Fellow, I am proud to know that Churchill was a key early advocate and the spiritual architect of the European Convention on Human Rights.”
“How are agriculture and agri-food vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and the real and present dangers of ignoring it?”
“Thank you very much. Minister, how is your Department working with relevant stakeholders, such as universities, and the trusts to make Northern Ireland an attractive partner for UK-wide and international trials? Why has the Department brought about a great deal of confusion regarding EU rules, which, we were told, were blocking trials, with correspondence from you, Minister, last week saying that that was all wrong, there were no EU blockages and trials should be able to proceed? In reality, Minister, the blockage is in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.”
“I thank the Minister. I will certainly write to her to encourage her to take up my invitation. The issue has been a long-running sore for people who live in the area. Unfortunately, Northern Ireland Water is supported by some members of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, which asserted that there should be a right of way but does not seem to want to take any further action.”
“The vast majority of people who are in HMOs have been given leave to remain if they were originally asylum seekers. What action do you take to ensure that those who accommodate them provide the best quality and standards of accommodation, bearing in mind that most of those people are highly vulnerable and find it extremely difficult to articulate their complaints or are scared to make them?”
“First Minister, you will be aware that the Prime Minister recently took university chancellors from around the United Kingdom with him on a business trip. What actions is the Executive Office taking to include our university vice chancellors in inward investment to Northern Ireland?”
“It is not about taking identity away from anyone; it is about ensuring that identity is never used as a barrier or a weapon and that everyone can feel equally accepted in this place that we call "home". When the Bill comes before the Chamber for debate and scrutiny, I trust that all Members, including those in the DUP who have spoken passionately about inclusion in sport, will bring the same energy and commitment to creating inclusive environments through a fair and transparent framework. If we can show leadership in this place, we can help to change the tone beyond it towards a Northern Ireland in which identity is respected, opportunity is impartial and equality truly belongs to everyone.”
“That kind of accountability is essential if we are serious about building inclusive sporting environments that work for everyone. Equality does not belong to one tradition or community: equality belongs to us all. Respect for identity should never come at the expense of someone else's sense of belonging. The more we create environments that reflect fairness and openness, the stronger our shared society becomes. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Paula Bradshaw has submitted a private Member's Bill on the display of flags and emblems. The purpose of the Bill will be to establish clear and fair standards that protect freedom of expression, while ensuring that our shared spaces remain genuinely welcoming to everyone.”
“The way that we present and display our identities has a real impact on who feels welcome and who does not. No young athlete should ever feel that their background, accent or community affiliation will determine the opportunity to compete. Sport should be open to everyone. It should be defined by hard work, talent and merit, not by a flag or someone's community background. I echo the Equality Commission's recommendation for:”
“The findings of the Equality Commission on boxing remind us once again how symbols and expressions of identity can either build inclusion or create exclusion.”
“If we are to truly tackle hate crime, there needs to be a purposeful move in prioritising action against race hate at all levels, from Westminster getting a grip with social media platforms, to the Executive Office promoting and delivering on its range of strategies, which, thus far, have not extended beyond sound bites or press releases. <BR /> <BR />I pledge to support my constituents across East Antrim. I trust that all in the Chamber will agree that, one day, we should not need a hate crime awareness week. Until that day, I pledge to deliver my actions by working on delivering hope, not hate.”
“That toxic racist rhetoric has been amplified by the spread of misinformation and the lack of government action, which has been fuelled by social media platforms failing to monitor rampant tirades of hate. The individual targets in those crimes were attacked or terrorised solely because of the colour of their skin, their background or their community. Those are real people with real families. <BR /> <BR />At this time, I am calling on our Executive to do more to protect those who are targeted simply for the colour of their skin or their race.”
“<BR /> <BR />Every person in Northern Ireland has the right to live without fear or intimidation during Hate Crime Awareness Week and, indeed, during every week. If you are a victim of a hate crime or an incident, it is good to speak to someone who can hear about your experience. Support services, such as the Hate Crime Advocacy Service, are available and can help to deal with the impact of crime. Those services offer a safe and confidential space to provide support to victims of hate and signal crimes across different protected characteristics. <BR /> <BR />In the summer just past, we witnessed shameful scenes of families being burnt out of their homes, something that we thought that we had left in our past.”
“This week marks National Hate Crime Awareness Week. I would like the Assembly to join organisations across the United Kingdom that are marking this important week, encouraging those who are victims or witnesses to hate crimes to report them to the authorities. Hate crimes are a scourge on our society. Many in the Chamber have been subject to hate crimes at home and at places of work. Depressingly, data released by the PSNI shows that, in the 12 months to June 2025, there were almost 2,300 hate crimes across Northern Ireland, with 1,329 of those being motivated by racial issues. That is the highest figure since records began in 2004. It is horrifying that hate crimes have become so commonplace in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ultimately, the Executive legislation programme will be judged not by the number of Bills that are introduced but by the substance of what is delivered. A race equality Bill will give the Executive a chance to prove that equality is not an afterthought but a foundation: a chance to rebuild trust, to show courage and to state clearly that every person who calls Northern Ireland home belongs here in full and equal measure.”
“We want to see a Bill that is introduced early, consulted on widely and drafted in such a way that it has the lived experience of minority ethnic communities at its heart. <BR /> <BR />The Department of Justice is bringing forward further legislation, but I will highlight two areas that connect directly to that work. The forthcoming sentencing Bill will bring in Charlotte's law, implementing a statutory aggravator model. The victims and witnesses of crime Bill will complement those reforms by ensuring that there are automatic special measures for hate crime victims through prohibiting in-person cross-examination and establishing the post of a commissioner for victims and witnesses of crime, who will be able to assist victims and witnesses.”
“This is not a sudden spike but the result of years of complacency, inaction and the Assembly's absence. The race riots and violent attacks on migrant families in June were not isolated events; they are a symptom of a society that has failed to confront racism honestly and a warning of what happens when leadership goes missing. Our ethnic minority communities have had an understandable loss of faith in government, and they deserve much better. We need bold programmes, not sticking plasters. We must finally bring our law into line with the rest of these islands and go further. We need to close the gaps in the Race Relations Order 1997 and explicitly honour those requirements and obligations under article 2 of the Windsor framework. We need to build a Northern Ireland that genuinely protects and celebrates diversity.”
“Recently, we witnessed what might have been called a "summer of discontent", a period during which racial hatred was dragged into the open for all to see; families were driven from their homes; election posters were burned as usual; and flags and effigies were used to intimidate. The PSNI's latest report makes for grim reading, with 2,049 racist incidents and 1,329 race hate crimes in the past year. Those are the highest figures since records began in 2004. Behind those numbers are, regrettably, our neighbours, our colleagues and children who are forced to live in fear simply because of the colour of their skin or where they were born. Amnesty International described this year as one of "hate and fear" in Northern Ireland and warned:”
“After almost two decades of promises, we still await the single equality framework that everyone knows is needed. The Equality Commission has already set out five priorities for change to our race equality laws: the harmonisation and expansion of the scope of racial grounds; the extension of protection against discrimination and harassment by public bodies; the introduction of combined discrimination provisions; the protection of workers against third-party racial harassment; and the widening of the scope of positive action. The road map is clear; what is missing is the political will. <BR /> <BR />It matters, because we do not debate the programme in a vacuum.”
“At a time when equality gaps persist and measures to deal with key shortfalls in gender, disability and age discrimination legislation remain stalled or buried in consultation papers, that is not the level of drive or ambition that people expect to hear from the Executive. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland's equality law is now badly fragmented and far too complex. There are major gaps and inconsistencies across the system. Different equality laws provide different levels of protection, creating a hierarchy of rights that means that some people are better protected from discrimination than others. Over time, those gaps have only widened, leaving us lagging behind international standards and behind our neighbours in Great Britain and Ireland.”
“As a member of the Executive Office Committee, I welcome the publication of the Executive's legislation programme. It is right that the Assembly debates it today and that we do so with honesty, because, despite all the talk of ambition, the programme is remarkably light on legislation. Of course, some legislation is already in play, but it is certainly not an exhaustive list of what the Executive need to do. In fact, in the programme that has been presented, only one Bill remains for the Executive Office Committee, which is the race equality Bill. It falls directly within the Executive Office's remit.”
“Minister, what action are you taking to address waste water pollution in Carrickfergus and Belfast lough?”
“Will the Minister outline the role that policing and community safety partnerships (PCSPs) have in tackling drinking in public and alcohol misuse?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. It is very welcome. Will people who have been accepted on to the scheme be eligible for the Chancellor's right to try with regard to employment?”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I did not get the chance to speak to the Principal Deputy Speaker as she left the Chamber. She corrected me on and chided me for the tone and language that I used. I wholeheartedly apologise to the House. Please pass on my apologies to her.”
“Minister, you have clearly set out to the House the responsibilities that you have for policing in Northern Ireland and the operational responsibilities that the Chief Constable has. For the slow learners in the House, will you set out the consequences of the alternative, were you to have operational responsibility?”
“I warmly welcome the new junior Minister to her role. Junior Minister, I am pleased to hear that Queen's University has been asked to carry out research to identify gaps in legislation, particularly on the attitudes of men and boys to violence against women and girls. Will that research include work with people who are currently held in prison?”
“They deserve more than our sympathy; they deserve action. Brain tumours are among the most devastating forms of cancer, yet that area remains underfunded, under-researched and misunderstood. Without investment in research, brain tumours will continue to be a death sentence. It is time to end delays to funding, diagnosis and treatment. Research and prompt treatment paths offer the only real hope for transforming survival —”
“Our Health Minister has a duty to act. We need a cancer care strategy that treats brain tumours not as an afterthought but as a priority. We need to end the lottery for rehabilitation and psychological support, so that survival is not only about extending life but about ensuring quality of life. We need to support Brainwaves, Northern Ireland's only voluntary brain tumour research and support charity. What steps will the Minister take to prioritise brain cancer and tackle waiting times, which cost lives? How will he ensure that people can access cancer trials despite continual hold-ups to clinical trial sign-offs? What plan will he bring forward to overcome barriers that deny patients equal access to care and support? <BR /> <BR />This is about people such as Rachael, her two-year-old child and families across Northern Ireland.”
“The United Kingdom now ranks close to the bottom of the list of wealthy nations for five-year survival rates, while, interestingly, Ireland is in the top five. We must ask why that is, because the situation in the UK is simply unacceptable. Between 2018 and 2022, more than 800 people in Northern Ireland were diagnosed with brain tumours, which is an average of 160 a year. Survival rates have barely improved, however.”