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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“<BR /> <BR />This is nothing short of child abuse at its worst, and, sadly, as we have heard, lives are lost. We need to look at the solutions. Education, health support and multi-agency approaches will and can tackle the problem. We cannot set the problem at the door of the police, the health service or schools. Everybody has to work together to address the problems. Good work is going on across East Antrim, but we need to make sure that it is fully supported on a cross-departmental basis. It is important, therefore, that we deliver better services for young people, and it is necessary that we deliver high levels of support. When someone has been identified as a known drug user, particularly through the health service, their death should not be the inevitable outcome.”
“Of course, much of that is about getting young people addicted so that they become dependent on the drugs that they have been sold. That leads to serious issues with moneylending and young people being used as county lines, effectively, and transporters of drugs across East Antrim and beyond because of our proximity to Belfast. It is a serious issue and one that is extremely difficult to tackle. As others have mentioned, there are good organisations in the community that have been working hard with young people and those across all ages to deal with the issues. I thank organisations such as Carrick Connect, youth groups across East Antrim and, in particular, Christians Against Poverty, an organisation that helps with debt counselling and supporting families.”
“I thank my East Antrim colleague Danny Donnelly for bringing this important topic to the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />Illegal drugs and the misuse of prescription drugs are serious issues across not just East Antrim but the whole of Northern Ireland. Rising addiction is not just an East Antrim issue. Cannabis, cocaine, synthetic drugs and the misuse of prescription drugs are all in the mix across Northern Ireland, including our constituency of East Antrim. Sadly, we are aware that some schools in East Antrim have to prevent young people going out of school at lunchtime such is the prevalence and proximity of drug dealers at local shops where kids would go for sweets or a bottle of something to drink at lunchtime. <BR /> <BR />That takes me to the serious concerns about the influence of those who peddle and deal in drugs across East Antrim.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I am curious about the Member's comment about his concern for people not receiving NHS dental care, when his sister party, Reform UK, has been calling for privatisation and insurance-based healthcare, including dental healthcare.”
“The opening words of the Member's winding-up speech were "illegal immigration": there is no illegal immigration in the United Kingdom until an individual has been determined by a due and legal process to be illegal, at which stage a process takes place to return them to the place that they came from. There are no illegal immigrants in the United Kingdom until the courts determine so.”
“Does the Member agree that, given the language that some Members are using in the debate, they would not have given an example of seven or eight males from a student background who move into an HMO, as regularly occurs across Northern Ireland? The implication, however, that the people who are moving into HMOs are from a different racial or ethnic group is nothing short of blatant sectarian and racist language.”
“Minister, are you able to confirm whether your Department has conducted a regional skills-gap analysis across the trusts to ensure that those commissioned training places align with actual demand?”
“That gives clear moral and international backing for the type of work that is being undertaken here. We also need to broaden that work beyond museums. We need to embed it in our schools and public institutions and in our cultural policy so that all communities in Northern Ireland can see themselves reflected in the stories that we tell. It is not just about artefacts —”
“and we wholeheartedly support that. <BR /> <BR />That ambition, however, must be met with support. That is why the motion calls for ministerial leadership. We need the Department for Communities to fund provenance research and digitisation, to support partnerships with local communities and international source communities and to provide clear and consistent guidance to help museums navigate claims with confidence and care. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear: it is not just a matter of good practice but one of international responsibility. Article 12 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is explicit:”
“That is why the Alliance Party fully supports that approach, which is rooted in principle and driven by evidence and accountability. Critically, Northern Ireland is well placed to lead on that. <BR /> <BR />Unlike institutions in the rest of the United Kingdom that are governed by the British Museum Act 1963, National Museums Northern Ireland is not barred by statute from making ethical returns. We have greater flexibility, and we should use it wisely and courageously. National Museums Northern Ireland's internal guidance, 'Supporting Decolonisation in Northern Ireland', encourages museums to:”
“<BR /> <BR />Those efforts stand in contrast to the more rigid approaches that treat artefacts largely as objects of legal preservation rather than as living cultural expressions with emotional and ethical significance. Recognising harm, returning what was taken without consent and restoring dignity is not some sort of moral absolutism but common decency. The past is complex, but complexity cannot be a shield for inaction or delay. We must resist simplistic binaries, because it is not the case that we should return everything or return nothing. Rather, it is about evidence-led, case-by-case decisions that are grounded in provenance, research, legal clarity, meaningful community engagement and public transparency.”
“It recognises that culture is not a trophy and that heritage is not a possession but a living part of identity. In our context, Britishness and Irishness are deeply felt and not easily mapped on to the cultural binaries that are seen elsewhere. National Museums Northern Ireland has rightly recognised that any decolonisation work must reflect our shared and interwoven histories and must be careful not to undermine the core principle of decolonisation, which is to address racism and exclusionary practices while respecting identities. Its curatorial commitment to dialogue, especially with those for whom collections are of special significance, reflects a model from which, as a hospitable, inclusive and respectful approach that encourages reflection without imposition, we can all learn, especially here in the Assembly at times.”
“That is a powerful example of ambition in action. It invites and challenges us to confront the way in which artefacts were acquired, the stories that we have chosen to tell and the voices that have been excluded from those narratives. It does so not through shame or erasure but through inclusion, dialogue and learning. That is precisely the approach that we in the Alliance Party support: not rewriting history but deepening it; not erasing the past but confronting it honestly and building trust for a shared future. <BR /> <BR />National Museums Northern Ireland has already taken practical action. The return of ancestral remains to Hawaii is a deeply respectful step that reflects not only international best practice but basic human dignity.”
“I will represent my party colleague Sian Mulholland, who has another engagement. She is a member of the Communities Committee. <BR /> <BR />We welcome the motion. On behalf of the Alliance Party, I offer support not just for the motion but for the principles that underpin it: justice, openness and cultural respect. National Museums Northern Ireland's commitment to ethical collections development and active decolonisation of their collections is commendable. Through research, partnership and engagement with communities, National Museums Northern Ireland has shown that decolonisation is not simply about the past but about shaping a more inclusive, accountable and truthful future. <BR /> <BR />Reference has been made to the Inclusive Global Histories exhibition that was launched at the Ulster Museum in 2022.”
“Minister, do you agree that today is an important step forward in a reset of the relationship between the United Kingdom Government and the EU and that we need to and must go further in those relationships?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. Given that GP practices that are run by trusts and those that have returned their contracts and have become GP practices that are organised by the trusts have their practice indemnity paid for them, does the Minister not see that there is a clear need to pay the indemnity costs for all other GPs whose practices are not within trust responsibilities?”
“If Brexit had not happened, many of the issues would not be with us today. We need clear policies that set out how people will be welcomed to the United Kingdom. We also need to deal with the confusion in the public's mind between immigration and people who enter seeking asylum. Powell-like language is no badge of honour for a Prime Minister, and it is certainly no badge of honour for any Member of this House.”
“I thank Matthew O'Toole for bringing this important issue to the House this morning. The previous Conservative Government's dire mismanagement has left our immigration system in tatters. Public trust has been entirely shattered, so it was right for the Government to take steps to fix our broken immigration system and ensure that it works for our country, but not through more of the same failed systems and policies of the Tory Government. We need a clear plan to make it easier to recruit workers to fill vacancies in the United Kingdom. They are the very people who Mr Buckley wants to keep out of the United Kingdom: hospital workers, doctors, nurses and care workers. <BR /> <BR />Since we left the European Union, immigration has become a serious problem for the United Kingdom.”
“<BR /> <BR />To those watching today who are waiting for a diagnosis, waiting for treatment and waiting for hope, I say this: I see you because I have been there. I have sat where you sit. I know the frustration, the anger and the sadness. I saw it in patients around me who did not make the journey that I made. However, I know that change is possible, so long as we and the Minister have the political will to act. Minister, why has it has taken so long to get to this position? Why was this not part of your day-1 brief? The time for warm words is over. Now is the time to show a real plan that is measurable and timetabled and contains actions for delivery.”
“They are people who can be saved but only if we act quickly and with the urgency that the system demands. <BR /> <BR />Funding alone is not enough. Yes, the allocation of £215 million for waiting lists is welcome, but questions remain over implementation that, I hope, will be addressed in the elective care framework action plan that will be published later this month. We need to see detailed plans and programmes to improve outcomes and a workforce that retains the specialists whom we are losing. Above all, we need to treat the situation with the urgency that it demands. Behind every statistic is someone's mother, father or child who is running out of days while we stand here and debate. We must never forget the human cost of those failures.”
“Between October and December 2024, only 34% of patients began treatment within 62 days of an urgent GP referral, and the gap is widening. Ten years ago, the figure was more than double that. As for breast cancer, only one third were seen within the critical 14-day window, down five percentage points on the previous year. Let me be clear: that is not just inefficiency; it is injustice. Every day, that is a gamble with lives. Research in the British Medical Journal shows that a four-week delay in cancer surgery increases the risk of death by 7%, rising to 13% for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. For breast cancer, delays of eight and 12 weeks can increase the risk of death by 17% and 26%. Those are not numbers: they are our parents, partners, children and friends.”
“I am thankful for the extraordinary staff in the NHS and their skills, including my GP, the staff at Antrim Area Hospital and the Cancer Centre and the surgeons at Belfast City Hospital. <BR /> <BR />Before I move on, I have a question for the Minister. The theatres at Belfast City Hospital are always over capacity: when will plans be provided for the new elective care theatres at Belfast City Hospital? When will they be built to take pressure off the existing facilities? <BR /> <BR />I stand here, having survived one of the least survivable cancers. My story should not be the exception; it should be the norm. Instead, the system is failing far too many people across Northern Ireland when they need it most. The latest figures are not just disappointing: they are a disgrace.”
“Cancer is not just a disease but a thief that steals time, futures and lives. Although cancer does not discriminate, our systems, sadly, do. They discriminate between those who get seen on time and those who do not and between those who survive and those who become a statistic. I know that, because I stood in those shoes. In 2019, I sat across a table from a consultant and heard the words that no one wants to hear, "You have cancer". I learned something else that day, however, which was the difference that speed, expertise and decisive action can make.”
“Humanitarian aid must be allowed into the Gaza Strip.”
“The conflict will not be resolved by bombs or barricades; it will be resolved only through political courage, diplomacy and an unwavering commitment to human rights and international law. Ending arms sales, securing a permanent ceasefire and renewing momentum towards a two-state solution are the only moral imperatives and the only route to peace. <BR /> <BR />International aid agencies such as Christian Aid have said that, as a priority, we must protect, promote and defend the human rights of Palestinians in the Middle East. We must strengthen the resilience of individuals, communities and institutions so that they can respond when faced with threats to lives, land and livelihoods. Finally, we must deliver humanitarian responses that are accountable and impartial and strengthen local communities.”
“We have written to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary to call for an immediate suspension of all arms export licences to Israel and a renewed commitment by the UK Government to a two-state solution. We have called for accountability through the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court for all breaches of international law, no matter who committed them. In the Assembly, we have supported a motion calling for the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine, the release of hostages and an immediate ceasefire. <BR /> <BR />The international community, including the United Kingdom Government, must do more to end the illegal occupation of Gaza, halt the persecution of Palestinians in Israel and the occupied territories and demand a negotiated peace.”
“The situation in Gaza is getting worse every day. Tens of thousands of people have been killed; neighbourhoods have been destroyed; and over a million people have been displaced without access to food, water or medical care. That is an obscenity. <BR /> <BR />My party has consistently supported the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state, including in our most recent general election manifesto, in which we stated that a two-state solution was the only way to deliver lasting peace in the region. Since the outbreak of violence in October 2023, we have repeatedly condemned the war crimes that are being committed by Israel and Hamas. The targeting of civilians and the collective punishment of entire populations are wrong, and the taking of hostages is equally unacceptable. Our party has taken action.”
“Thank you very much. I do not disagree. That is a debate not for this Chamber but for the Irish Government and for a referendum going forward. <BR /> <BR />At the end of the day, this is not just about politics but about people. It is about every person, young or old, who wants an opportunity to participate in the democratic life of Ireland and on this island. It is about everyone who wants to see the promises of the Good Friday Agreement made real in their everyday lives. Today, if this motion passes, it sends a message that, in Northern Ireland, we take all identities and all democratic rights seriously. It is up to the Government in Dublin: if they wish to hold a referendum and to change the electoral law to allow for those who wish to vote in presidential elections to do so, the right is theirs to so do.”
“To those who might oppose the motion, I will ask you to consider this: if we truly believe in the principles of the 1998 agreement and if we genuinely want to build a society where all identities are respected equally, we should have the confidence to support this small but important step forward for those who wish to participate in Irish presidential elections.”
“It was about building a normal and shared functioning society, where rights are not just theoretical but real and meaningful. Yet, here we are, nearly an entire generation later, still having to point out those issues. That tells you all that you need to know about how far we still have to go. <BR /> <BR />I do understand that some in the Chamber may have concerns, but let us be clear about what the motion is not. It is not about changing borders or sovereignty, nor is it about diminishing anyone's identity. It is simply about making sure that when we talk about rights and identities in this place, we mean actual, tangible rights that people can exercise. Twelve years ago, the Irish Government's own Convention on the Constitution, made up of ordinary citizens and experts, looked at the issue and said clearly that they wanted a change.”
“I met some young people in my constituency recently — bright and politically engaged students from Carrickfergus Grammar School and Ulster University — who looked at situations like this and asked the perfectly reasonable question: why can someone from Northern Ireland be president of Ireland but not be able to vote in that election? Do you know what? They are right, because it does not make any sense. <BR /> <BR />The motion is not about proposing some radical change. It is about squaring a basic circle of democracy. The principle is simple: if you are eligible to hold an office and if you wish to have, as the Good Friday Agreement gives you, the right to be recognised as a citizen of Ireland, you should be eligible to vote for that office. That is simply democracy 101. The Good Friday Agreement was not just about ending our violence.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many states across Europe and around the world have arrangements in place for out-of-country voting, including the United Kingdom. It is interesting that Ireland has some of the most restrictive out-of-country voting regulations. For example, in order to allow out-of-state Irish passport holders to vote, substantial amendment to the current Irish voting regulations will be required, not to mention a change to the Irish constitution by referendum. <BR /> <BR />Let me turn to what the motion represents. It is about fixing a democratic anomaly that should have been resolved quite some time ago.”
“At the beginning of the debate, I need to make a declaration of interest. I am the chair of the Council for Democratic Elections, which is a constituent body of the Venice Commission — the international organisation that, through its independent experts, vets and verifies electoral law and electoral law changes. Both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland are signatories to that international treaty. As such, Ireland will be required to submit any changes to electoral law in advance. One matter to take note of is that the Venice Commission has set a very clear standard for changes in electoral law. It states that no changes should be made in the year in which an election is scheduled except in the most urgent of circumstances.”
“Our answer then and now must be peacebuilding and honest remembrance in a way that makes room for every story, every sacrifice and every community that stood together against tyranny. That is how we will truly honour VE Day, not just as history but as a living commitment to the values for which so many fought and died.”
“<BR /> <BR />Let us remember individuals like Private Clarence Trimm, a black Canadian soldier who was born to British Guyanese parents and first tried to enlist at 15 by growing a moustache to look older. He was killed in Germany two weeks before VE Day, having fought to liberate the Netherlands. Consider also Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim woman of Indian descent who served as a British spy in occupied France. Just before she was executed at Dachau concentration camp, her last word was "Liberté". Those stories matter. They remind us that the fight against fascism is truly global and that our remembrances must be equally inclusive. <BR /> <BR />Fascism has thrived on division.”
“<BR /> <BR />As we reflect on that history, we must reflect on this uncomfortable truth: our collective memory has failed to honour properly all those who made victory possible. Recent research has revealed that only 24% of us in the United Kingdom are aware that soldiers from Jamaica and Kenya fought in that war; only 34% of us know about the sacrifices that were made by Muslim troops; and a mere 43% of us recall the contribution of Sikhs. However, when we are told the history and learn that 2·5 million soldiers of the Indian army, about 1 million African personnel and tens of thousands from the Caribbean fought, we all agree that they deserve equal commemoration.”
“This week, as we mark the anniversary of Victory in Europe, we do more than just remember a military triumph. We commemorate the birth of a new Europe — a Europe built not on vengeance but on reconciliation; not on division but on a shared sovereignty and human rights. <BR /> <BR />The end of the war in Europe in 1945 was not just about the defeat of fascism; it was about the courage to imagine a different future. Treaties and institutions that followed, from the United Nations to the European Convention on Human Rights, were drawn up even as our cities still smouldered. They represented a profound belief that peace must be built on justice and that no nation can secure its future alone.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I appreciate the way in which you do allow Members to participate in Question Time, particularly how you have allowed Members to make, perhaps off-standing, comments, but perhaps, Mr Speaker, I could invite you to reflect on the behaviour of at least one Member today who certainly rose above that type of behaviour, and it became nothing short of disrupting to those of us who were attempting to listen to sensible answers from the Minister of Justice.”
“They now deserve to see delivery. If the Minister can get it right, it will not just be the statistics that improve; it will be people's lives.”
“My colleague Danny Donnelly said that Alliance has been consistent in pushing for practical change. We have worked closely with stakeholders, we have listened, and we have acted. Last year, I sponsored the Live Well Hub event at Stormont, which showcased community-based support that is already making a difference. <BR /> <BR />Those who are living with diabetes are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for fairness, services that meet modern standards and technology and care that reflect best practice and not outdated systems and endless waiting. We support the motion because we recognise its important truths, but let us be clear that the real test will not be today's debate; it will be in what is done next. Over to you, Minister. For too long, people living with diabetes have heard commitments.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is true that there has been the same slow progress with technology. Hybrid closed-loop systems are endorsed by NICE and are now recognised across the United Kingdom as a major advancement. They reduce the burden on patients and improve health outcomes and lives, yet, once again, Northern Ireland lags behind in their implementation. Good intentions are not enough. Approval on paper is not enough. Delivery is what matters, and it matters urgently. <BR /> <BR />In preparing for the debate, I consulted Diabetes UK NI, because I wanted to ensure that whatever I said reflected the voice of those who matter most: people living with diabetes and the organisations that support them. Although motions and debates are important, what matters far more is what happens after the words are spoken.”
“Their message has been constant: promises must become action, and strategies must become services that people can see and feel. <BR /> <BR />We have known for years that proper data is vital. In 2016, we committed to participating in the National Diabetes Audit, which is the audit used in England and Wales, but nothing has happened. Nine years later, Northern Ireland still does not have the infrastructure in place. Without that data, our clinicians and, worst of all, our patients are working blind. We cannot properly plan, properly measure or, importantly, properly improve. Think of where we would be today had that audit been put in place in 2016. I will now put direct questions to the Minister. Minister, will you commit to joining the audit? When can we expect to see it deliver for patients in Northern Ireland?”
“It takes over £1 million to manage diabetes daily, which equates to 10% of our local health and social care budget. Behind those statistics are real people who are living with not just a medical condition but fear, anxiety and huge mental and emotional strain. That is why it is vital that our health system provide more than treatment. It also has to provide support, dignity and fairness. I have to say that I see that from my wife's team in the Northern Trust every time that she comes into contact with it. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to be the chair of the all-party group (APG) on diabetes. I have had the privilege, and, at times, experienced the frustration, of hearing directly from people living with diabetes, from clinicians and from charities such as Diabetes UK NI.”
“I thank my East Antrim colleague Cheryl Brownlee for proposing the motion. It is a very important one. Like others, I can speak from personal experience. My wife is a type 2 diabetic. For her, the constant need to prick her finger and watch her diet has been dramatically changed by the sensor that she wears. It is the most amazing piece of technology that has come out, of that there is no doubt. <BR /> <BR />As others have said, diabetes is one of the most serious health issues of our time, with over 115,000 people in Northern Ireland living with it. That figure rises annually by some 3,000. Every day, more individuals are diagnosed and more families have to learn to adapt to new realities. Every day, the cost to our health service grows.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I apologise to the Speaker for missing the first question to the First Minister this afternoon, and I apologise to the First Minister.”
“Thank you, Minister. I will appreciate you coming back to me. Can you indicate to the House any of the initial findings and whether there is support, either for or against, the continuation of taxis using certain bus lanes?”
“Thank you for giving way. I appreciate your comments about welfare fraud. It is a serious issue and has to be tackled, but do you not agree that it pales into insignificance compared with the problem of tax dodging in the United Kingdom?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, given the proposed abolition of the work capability assessment, what assurance can you offer people with conditions not captured by PIP, such as those receiving ongoing cancer treatment? Will they still be able to access universal credit support?”
“Deputy First Minister, given the urgency for communities that are in transition to be free from the corrosive and difficult circumstances that they find themselves in, under the jackboot of paramilitaries and drug-dealing gangs, can you set a timeline for communities to be truly transitioned and free from such behaviour?”
“Thank you for your answer, First Minister. Given that, as you said, some of the groups are not happy or comfortable with the proposals, how will your office take into account the sensitivities and breadth of concerns expressed by victims and survivors?”