Claire Sugden
East Londonderry · Independent · Northern Ireland
“That is, gosh, almost 35 years ago, yet we are still having the conversation in 2026. If I were to speak to that eight-year-old girl, I would tell her, "When you are 40, Claire, this will not even be a consideration for you". Sadly, however, it still is. It is deeply disappointing that, when we had an opportunity, it was not taken.”
“Indeed, I tabled an amendment to that Bill to achieve the desired outcome, but, sadly, the opportunity was not taken. One of the strengths of the Assembly is that Committees can identify where Executive legislation has fallen short and produce their own practical, targeted solutions.”
“Frankly, we should be listening. Sometimes, we talk about equality in broad terms, but the Bill reminds us that equality is often about practical things. It is about removing unnecessary barriers from everyday life and ensuring that opportunities and choices do not depend on arbitrary differences between schools.”
“That is ridiculous. The point that we should all pay attention to is that of girls feeling less exposed. We should focus on that even if there were no other reasons to pass the legislation. Girls simply want to get on with their school day without having to think about something that most boys take for granted.”
“That meeting was a reminder that issues that can appear small to adults — there have been adults who have asked why the Assembly is legislating on this — can be issues on which we need to legislate. When people do not behave appropriately, we as a legislature have a responsibility to legislate.”
“Around one in seven couples in Northern Ireland experiences fertility problems, yet Northern Ireland continues to offer one of the most limited publicly funded fertility services anywhere in the United Kingdom. Couples face lengthy waits, restricted eligibility criteria and fewer publicly funded IVF opportunities than elsewhere.”
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“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I appreciate that from a litigation perspective. However, in most circumstances, this is highly emotional. It is about relationships breaking down, and conversations about why the marriage is breaking down will happen in the home. As I will go on to say, by creating more hurdles, we are interfering. If this is about not interfering in family life, by being one of the only jurisdictions in the United Kingdom that does not have this, we are actually interfering in family lives. Mr Allister, I appreciate your perspective, but I do not agree with it. At the point at which a couple reluctantly agrees to divorce — there is a reluctance there — there is no opportunity for reconciliation, and, to an extent, we have to respect that.”
“I support the motion. I will address a point that Mr Allister made, and I am happy to take an intervention if he wishes to respond. A marriage is an equal partnership. Whether we like it or not, if my husband told me today that he wanted to divorce, I would not like that, but, equally, I am not sure that I would want to be in a marriage that my husband did not want to be in. Are we recognising the equal partnership that a marriage is? If that partnership becomes less equal because one of the individuals wants to divorce, do we not have to respect that?”
“Is it the case that the financial settlement is different to the actual dissolution of the marriage? The point the Member is making is contrary to the actual dissolution of the marriage.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. There are great farms in my constituency of East Londonderry, many of which are trying to diversify their farming businesses. However, one of the biggest challenges to that is planning, as mentioned by other Members. For example, Chestnutt Farm in Portrush — take the opportunity to visit it if you have not — has a milk vending machine and other farm shop type arrangements, but it is coming up against challenges with planning. How are you working with your planning colleagues in councils and the Communities Minister to address those issues?”
“It is great to hear that. The biggest frustration with animal welfare is how limited councils are in approaching cases brought to their attention. Is there anything that we can do in the meantime? Unfortunately, horrific cases are happening, and the answer is that we simply cannot do anything.”
“Deputy First Minister, how successful have we been in tackling paramilitarism when we hear nearly weekly of incidents such as the incident at Bushmills last week and other incidents of criminality across Northern Ireland? How successful can we be in the absence of a Programme for Government that has not been fully realised since 2016?”
“Second-home owners might find themselves in the difficult situation where their home, which is costing them money to keep, heat and light, is not working for them, maybe because people do not want to come to the area. We need to do a number of different things and be creative. <BR /> <BR />I am really pleased that the Minister is in the Chamber, because it has felt as though we have been talking about the issue for such a long time but not really doing anything about it. I look forward to hearing the Minister's solutions.”
“There is a lot more to be done to empower the local authorities, the councils, to look at their planning policies to see how we give status, I suppose, to second homes and whether enforcement is actually happening, because, sometimes, a measure is already in place, but the council is not enforcing it. <BR /> <BR />Other opportunities are affordable housing requirements and change of use restrictions. There are community land trusts. I do not know whether there is a direct translation to Northern Ireland. I am sure that the Minister could look into that. There are tourist taxes. We see those in other parts of the world. That might be something that we want to do, and the money could go back into those local communities to, perhaps, mitigate some of the challenges that we have with second homes. There could be empty homes initiatives.”
“Members have talked about other impacts, but it is important that we look towards solutions. It is a really difficult issue. We need only to look at other parts of the UK — for example, Cornwall and, I think, Pembrokeshire in Wales — to see what solutions have been taken there. They have not always been successful. They include council tax premiums, or whatever the equivalent might be here, but some people would argue that if you can afford a second home, you could probably afford that particular increase. How much impact would it really have?”
“We can build as many homes as we like, but the first hurdle is getting planning permission, and our infrastructure is not able to cope. This is such a cross-cutting issue, as, it seems, everything is, and it is something that we really need to properly focus on.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many homes are primarily used as holiday homes, leading to seasonal fluctuations in population. We have heard that, in the winter months, there is, perhaps, only one family living in a street. You do not have to knock the doors: if you look at the electoral register, you will see that, in a street of 10 houses, there is only one family registered there. That is definite data that suggests that we are experiencing a problem on the north coast, and maybe it is something that the Minister can look at to see how prevalent it is. <BR /> <BR />Local infrastructure can also be strained, leading to issues with waste and water management. That comes back to the issue of building more homes, and the Minister will be familiar with that.”
“Young families who wish to raise their children in the area where they grew up are being priced away. Older people, who expected to live out their final years, are being evicted. I have many examples of that having happened. <BR /> <BR />I want to talk about second-home ownership, because there is increased interest in it and it is something that I have spoken about over the last number of years. It has an impact: it can drive up property prices in areas with limited housing supply, which makes it difficult for local residents, particularly those on lower incomes, to afford housing. That phenomenon, as many of you will know, is known as "gentrification", and it can lead to the displacement of long-term residents and change the character of communities.”
“I look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say on that, because, if it is the number-one issue in every constituency office across Northern Ireland, that tells me that it is an action that needs to be prioritised, and I would expect to see it in our next Programme for Government. <BR /> <BR />Housing affordability is also becoming a significant challenge in the midst of a housing crisis and a cost-of-living crisis. As demand outstrips supply, housing prices and rents increase to unaffordable levels. Many now find themselves in financial hardship simply to keep a roof over their head. Those who cannot afford the rising costs will move on, and those who can afford it will move in for the weekend. Long-term residents and families are being displaced.”
“An immediate consequence is an increase in homelessness, and people are being forced to live in shelters and overcrowded accommodation. They are sofa-surfing, or they are placed in temporary accommodation that is hours away from their community, their child's school or their job. Imagine having additional challenges, such as fleeing a domestic abuse situation, having a child with special educational needs or being an older person who already feels isolated, and to then be offered temporary accommodation that is miles away from the area that you call home. That is shameful, and it feels as though it is not a priority for our Government.”
“We see that acutely on the north coast for the same reasons as other areas, but it is compounded by issues related to second-home ownership. I take Mr Robinson's point that this is not about demonising second-home owners but about trying to find balance, so that we can benefit from the economy that is stimulated by second-home owners and other people who come to the north coast but, equally, so that we can provide enough homes for people who want to live and work there. They may have grown up in the area, and it is what they want for their families and their children as well. <BR /> <BR />The impact of the housing crisis is wide-ranging, and it has a profound effect on individuals, communities, local services and the economy.”
“I am sure that there are other areas of Northern Ireland and, indeed, outside Northern Ireland that are affected, and we can talk about that later. <BR /> <BR />It is an important issue, and it has a severe impact on those affected. We have heard from other Members how many that is. Having a home is a fundamental part of our lives: it creates stability, enables community and is connected to our children's education, our health, our ability to work and earn a living and our emotional well-being. I appreciate that there are many areas across the region that have housing challenges, and I expect every MLA to say, as Ms Hunter did, that it is the most common issue that is presented in our constituency offices. <BR /> <BR />Undoubtedly, Northern Ireland is experiencing a housing crisis generally.”
“I offer my best wishes to Mr Bradley. I was not aware that he was unwell. I appreciate that he takes care of the east of the constituency and that you, Mr Robinson, take care of the west. As ladies, we take care of all of it. Hopefully, I will commit to that through my contribution. I also thank Ms Hunter for securing the debate. Her contribution was fantastic. She articulated the issues so diligently and got to the crux of the matter. <BR /> <BR />I have been highlighting the problem for several years, so I appreciate the attention that it is now being given in the Assembly. I also appreciate the fact that the Minister is here. He is a north coast boy, so I am sure that he has an interest, but the issue is not limited to the north coast.”
“With the right support, we could see many other designers, musicians, sportspeople and entrepreneurs take the world by storm and show that dreams and ambitions can be achieved, even from relatively modest beginnings in a small town in Northern Ireland. 'Forbes' has recognised that, and rightly so. Hope has the world at her feet. I invite Members to join me in congratulating her and in wishing her nothing but the best for a bright future.”
“The success of someone so young — just 27 years old — and of a local artist and designer with such a clear and widely appreciated talent deserves not just inclusion on such a prestigious list but the recognition and pride of everyone in Northern Ireland. To have built her company and brand in such a short time is a testament not only to her artistic talent and skill but to her business mind that made it happen. It also stresses the need to acknowledge, appreciate and support the talented people whom we have here in Northern Ireland so that they, like Hope, have a chance to showcase their work to the world.”
“Hope's work has been worn by tennis sensation Naomi Osaka, actors Jennifer Hudson and Billie Piper, and singer-songwriter Halsey. <BR /> <BR />Hope is a star in her own right, with her work appearing on numerous magazine covers across the world. Her ambitious community- and family-minded business approach took her creations from the north coast and Ulster University to the attention of the world in just a few short years after graduating in 2018. Her creations now appear in global clothing chains, such as Anthropologie and Free People, and are available in more than 80 countries worldwide, having been created in a workshop in Coleraine.”
“I wish to highlight the incredible achievement of my constituent Hope Macaulay following her inclusion on the world-renowned 'Forbes' "30 under 30" list for retail and commerce. The list includes entrepreneurs, leaders and creators under the age of 30 who have made a significant impact in their field. Hope, from Portstewart, hand-knits clothing, bags and accessories and has created a local cottage industry, employing 20 hand-knitters on the north coast to create her unique range of products. She has developed a distinctive style of knitting, using her signature chunky wool, which is ethically and responsibly sourced. Her style and unique way of using skills handed down by family members has created products that have been recognised globally.”
“One challenge of not having an MOT certificate is with the ability to get road tax, almost to the point of some vehicle users declaring their cars as off-road before their car tax expires and then refreshing that within weeks. That feels like an abuse of the system and not the intention behind it. How will the Minister's announcement affect road tax for cars? I point him to the comment he made about it being frustrating for some people. In many cases, people cannot go to their work, so it is much more than frustrating. I ask that he reflect on that and do more. I am not sure why it needs to be temporary. It is something that the Minister could plan for, moving forward.”
“I also acknowledge Translink. You might be familiar with its chatty carriage in which they bring together people on a journey along the north coast, which is probably the nicest route — it is in my constituency — to talk about various issues. I acknowledge what Alan Robinson said about some of the great community organisations in East Londonderry, which is also my constituency, that are providing these facilities. I found it interesting that he accused the Health Minister of not doing anything, but most of his contribution was about Communities. Again, it is not a criticism; it is a recognition that this extends beyond one Minister or one Department. <BR /> <BR />Lastly, I will make a point about what Sinéad McLaughlin said about immigrants.”
“<BR /> <BR />In the time that I have left, I will acknowledge some of the other contributions that Members have made. Colm Gildernew recognised the importance of community transport. I agree with that, but, again, it is not just community transport within Infrastructure. Community transport is required to get to medical appointments and social situations and interactions. North Coast Community Transport in my constituency often tells me that it is given the bare minimum because funding has been cut. That goes back to my earlier point. <BR /> <BR />Harry Harvey, rightly, recognises the input of the faith community in supporting these issues. Sometimes, as we move away from faith and church, we forget about the social opportunities that those types of things facilitate. Connie Egan, who represents North Down, talked about chatty benches.”
“<BR /> <BR />Despite the widespread acknowledgement of the issue and strong cross-party support — I welcome the fact that Órlaithí Flynn said that we should get that support — we remain the only part of the United Kingdom without a dedicated loneliness strategy. Therefore, I urge the Executive to take decisive action by implementing a comprehensive Northern Ireland loneliness strategy. Such a strategy must be cross-departmental, embedded in a Programme for Government — whenever we see it — and backed by committed resources and a clear time frame for development and delivery. That funding is key. Too often in the House, we talk about things. These motions are non-binding. The next action that we have to take is upholding what we agree here today, and that requires a strategy that is fully funded.”
“It is important to reiterate the point that Mr Butler made at the outset, as did Mr McGrath. It is disappointing that no Minister felt that this issue was important enough to respond to. I appreciate that there is debate about where the issue should sit, but going by the contributions from all Members, whether they believe it should be Health, Communities or even the Department of Justice, strangely enough, it is an issue that should be tackled from the top. Again, we have to be mindful that we are an ageing population. If that is the group that is the most affected, why are we overlooking the issue?”
“Yes, as elected representatives, all of us have probably experienced that. When we chat to someone, they want to bring you in for a cup of tea. It was referenced in the most recent series of 'Blue Lights' when the police officers were persuaded to stay at a person's home. Again, that is having an impact on services. You want to know where our police officers are: they are doing the jobs that other public services have not been able to do. <BR /> <BR />I am making the point that loneliness is not the responsibility of one Minister or one Department. It requires a whole-of-government approach, beginning with a Programme for Government, which we do not yet have, and, within that document, a commitment to develop a strategy for loneliness and active ageing.”
“We are also grossly overlooking the fact that we are an ageing population. There is no consideration of how our fast-changing demographic is impacting services and people. Others have mentioned the demographic. We do not have an active ageing strategy, and, 10 years from now, the problems that we are experiencing today will have increased tenfold.”
“We have heard Members right across the House talk about the community groups in their constituencies and the good work that they are doing, but we are hearing every day about how those community groups are not being funded from one year to the next. Therefore if government is not going to do it, we are cutting off our nose to spite our face if we do not support the groups that are already doing those things. <BR /> <BR />Poor education on healthy relationships is another issue; we need to know how to talk to one another. We voted for a motion on that issue, last week, but too many Members voted against it. Waiting lists and a lack of support for parents and families are also relevant, and there is no real plan to tackle social deprivation or protect the most vulnerable in society.”
“<BR /> <BR />Loneliness is a silent epidemic with far-reaching consequences, and others have talked about how chronic loneliness — the most serious form — can be linked to a multitude of health issues, including a risk of early death, cardiovascular problems, cognitive decline and depression. Furthermore, structural factors such as transitions in living arrangements, about which we have talked, bereavement, financial strain and technological barriers all contribute to the prevalence of loneliness among our elderly population, as well as among other groups. <BR /> <BR />As Mr Elliott suggested, government has perhaps inadvertently created the conditions for loneliness. There has been a failure to recognise rural needs, there is poor transport and infrastructure and there has been a defunding of community groups.”
“I agree, not just on that issue but across all areas, that government needs to do more to support people in accessing support and not almost stand in their way, as some of the processes suggest. I will come to that a little bit later. <BR /> <BR />Ms Hunter and Mr Butler talked about the growth of digital technology and said that, although our ability to communicate more remotely can be effective and efficient in some respects, the decline of physical communication, physical communities, local facilities and public services has led us towards living increasingly isolated lives. In-person conversations and interaction with those outside our known friend groups and family is becoming rarer, and, for too many of us, our neighbours, who were once so familiar to us, are now strangers.”
“I became a new parent last year, and, in the first number of months, I had what I suppose would be called a "Velcro baby", so I certainly was not alone, as she was always attached to me in some form. In the early hours of the morning, however, I was lonely. It was really difficult, and it brought on a form of postnatal anxiety that I still deal with all these months later. It is therefore important to recognise that, yes, we often associate loneliness with older people, but it affects people from all different backgrounds at all stages in their life. Ms McLaughlin makes a really important point about transitions, and there are huge life changes that are inevitable in the journeys that we go through.”
“Perhaps that was her only opportunity to speak to someone once a week, or perhaps even once a month or over a number of months. Surely that is enough to compel the Government to develop a cross-departmental strategy immediately to address a pervasive issue that affects so many. <BR /> <BR />The pandemic certainly drew attention to loneliness as a growing concern. Although COVID-19 exacerbated the issue, particularly among those who were already vulnerable, such as carers, individuals with disabilities, those with a terminal illness, new parents — they were mentioned by Sinéad McLaughlin — and older people, the pandemic did not create the issue.”
“It is not just a brief and temporary feeling of being alone when you would rather not be, and it is not something that passes or that everybody experiences from time to time. Rather, loneliness is a debilitating condition that can affect anyone regardless of age, background or circumstance. We heard from Members who said that recent data has shown that one in five — 19% — of all people in Northern Ireland have reported feeling lonely at some point in time. That is over 360,000 individuals. <BR /> <BR />Ms Egan said that people aged 75 and above in Northern Ireland report significantly higher rates of loneliness compared with people in other age groups, and we have heard heartbreaking accounts. Mr Butler, in his opening remarks, talked about the elderly lady who came into the shop once a week.”
“I appreciate all the contributions and the fact that Members have indicated their support for the motion. In particular, I appreciate the contributions from Members who are on the all-party group on ageing and older people and the all-party group on preventing loneliness. A number of weeks' work went into getting the motion on to the agenda today, and it is important that we did that. <BR /> <BR />I also thank the Ulster Unionist Party for allowing me to make the winding-up speech on the motion. That again shows the cross-party support, in which I include that of independent MLAs, for the motion. I also thank the sector, particularly the British Red Cross and Age NI, for informing the debate. <BR /> <BR />Loneliness is not just a feeling.”
“It is about looking at this in the context of how it impacts on people on the ground.”
“I always like to consider such matters practically, so, to take the Speaker's point and return to the subject of the debate, what is the impact of the motion? Ultimately, for me, the motion is talking about protecting Northern Ireland within the EU market. Will it have an impact on our internal UK market, however? That will determine how I vote today. For those makers of crafts or of whiskey, is the biggest market that we are trying to protect for them the UK market or the EU market? Can someone answer that for me? If it is the UK market, perhaps we need to be voting alongside the DUP. <BR /> <BR />This is about practical outworkings for businesses on the ground. If businesses are better protected in the EU market because there is more of an outcome for them there, do we go with that?”
“When we invest in the education, health and social and economic empowerment of women, we unlock significant potential to contribute meaningfully to our communities and wider society. Studies consistently show that societies with greater gender equality tend to have higher levels of prosperity and competitiveness, and I want that for my constituency in Northern Ireland. I support the motion.”
“It is a powerful statement that our Executive, led by two very capable women, have prioritised a strategy that aims to change attitudes, value women and girls and stop abuse and violence. <BR /> <BR />It is not every man, and, indeed, men who abhor this behaviour as much as I do are so important in speaking out and supporting the strategy. I appreciate the male Members of the House who have taken the lead to support this work. They must be role models for boys and younger men, and there are great examples of that already, including the white ribbon campaign, through which local football teams, including Coleraine Football Club, have worn a white ribbon to send a positive message. <BR /> <BR />Investing in women is not only a moral imperative but an economic one.”
“A lot of experiences are unexpected, societal expectations for mothers are high, and every day is a palpable worry. Yes, that is life. Babies are born every day, many women came before me, and many more will come after me, but that, surely, is why we should support mothers — their immeasurable impact on all of us. Happy Mother's Day to all the women who love and care for us, but maybe our gratitude should start with the public services that they have long needed. <BR /> <BR />Finally, investing in women requires us to address the root causes of gender inequality, including harmful stereotypes and discriminatory practices. It involves challenging societal norms that limit women's potential and perpetuate gender-based violence.”
“Research has, typically, focused on men and boys, so symptoms in women and girls are not necessarily picked up. I expect that there are many more examples of cases where inequality in research has meant women being treated less. <BR /> <BR />Specifically, we need services that recognise and support the significant changes that pregnancy makes to our bodies and minds. I became a mother last year, and I am so blessed with my beautiful Indy, but she did not come with a manual, or, if she did, she left it in there.”
“I appreciate the commitment of the Executive to devise and fund a childcare strategy, but it is not happening quickly enough, and I encourage the Executive to implement interim measures to support women and their families until a full strategy can be realised. <BR /> <BR />Investment in women's health is also key to progress. Often, we forget that our role as MLAs is to improve public services for everyone in Northern Ireland. Half of that "everyone" are women, yet our services, health and social care in particular, do not serve them. We need to improve in areas such as mental health, reproductive health, family planning and menopause. We also need to understand conditions such as autism and ADHD, which present differently in women and girls.”
“<BR /> <BR />"Inspire inclusion", this year's theme, directs us to invest in women in order to drive progress. We must make progress for gender equality but also for all aspects of society. When we invest in women, everyone benefits: individuals, families, communities and our public services. Imagine if we truly invested in childcare. As well as creating opportunities for women to participate fully in the workforce, that would yield a wide range of benefits for wider society. It would promote early childhood development, stimulate economic growth, further social equity and inclusion, support community well-being and advance gender equality. Childcare is a vital social and economic investment that will create a more prosperous and equitable society for all.”
“I appreciate the opportunity to take part in the debate on this cross-party motion to recognise International Women's Day. While it is a global celebration of the remarkable achievements of women throughout history and an acknowledgement of the persistent challenges that women continue to face, International Women's Day is an opportunity to voice day-to-day issues that prevent advancement in gender balance in my constituency and across Northern Ireland. Despite the progress that we have achieved, women still confront systemic barriers that obstruct their full participation in society, such as gender-based violence, unequal access to healthcare and education and limited economic opportunities because the appropriate infrastructure simply does not exist.”
“I will reiterate the second part of my question. Given that sickness absence levels will affect policing numbers, which will then affect the ability to keep our communities safe, does the Minister have a view on the level of sickness absences in the police in relation to work-related stress — PTSD?”
“Thank you for your answer, Minister. I appreciate that there are people who enter prison with a drug problem, but an awful lot come out with a drug problem. Is enough being done to address the use of illicit drugs in prison?”
“Minister, this was originally a three-year contract, but it has been extended twice and, now, a third time, which I very much welcome. However, how did we find ourselves in the position where Nexus was contacting MLAs, with less than a month of the contract to go, to suggest that services will come to an end? Has your Department not been engaging, over the past two years of extensions, to try to ensure that we have a proper service in place that performs well?”
“I wish the Minister well in his portfolio. I also wish that he brings some of that money to Coleraine Football Club. We have been asking for this funding for quite a while. <BR /> <BR />Minister, it seems or it is expected that there will not be enough money. Will you ask the Executive to give more money so that it is not just Coleraine Football Club that benefits from the funding?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Do you plan to follow in the footsteps of your predecessor and legislate for a badger cull in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. She will appreciate that this is the only region of the United Kingdom that does not have that specific legislation. The issue seems to be around the lower age limit. Does she agree that we need the legislation in place, even if that means going with what has been done similarly in GB and the 18-plus limit?”