Andy Allen
East Belfast · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Member for her question. There are two accessible toilet cubicles available to visitors on the ground floor, one designated for male use and one for female use. On the first floor, there is an additional accessible toilet facility that is available for use by all visitors.”
“Before I begin, I declare an interest as a trustee of a charity. Through that role, I have seen at first hand the valuable work that charities carry out and the responsibilities that fall on trustees to ensure that organisations are properly governed.”
“I thank the Member for her follow-up question. While no formal assessment has been undertaken to establish a direct correlation between facilities and attendance by people with disabilities, we regularly engage with and welcome to Parliament Buildings people with disabilities through a range of forums, including involvement with the Youth…”
“<BR /> <BR />Perhaps the most significant issue for scrutiny is the extent to which important operational detail is being transferred from primary legislation into regulations.”
“Nevertheless, it would be useful to know how concerns relating to such organisations, should they arise, would be addressed and how cooperation between regulators would operate should issues arise.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission installed a Changing Places facility in Parliament Buildings in 2011. Standard accessible toilets do not meet the needs of many people, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities.”
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“Attendance at a statutory day-care centre should not depend on whether someone can afford an emergency fare or find a suitable mode of transport at short notice. <BR /> <BR />There is also a safeguarding aspect. The adults who attend Edgcumbe depend on routine. When that routine is disrupted and days are missed, that is not something that they can simply make up the following week. The impact can be felt quickly in their mood, behaviour and overall stability. Often, it is the families who are left to pick up the pieces and manage that fallout. <BR /> <BR />I fully appreciate that unforeseen situations will arise. However, as has been mentioned, that is not what is occurring in this instance. Recruitment and retention challenges across social care can be an issue.”
“For families and providers, it means scrambling to rearrange work patterns and staffing and support arrangements at the last minute. Those affected live on tightly defined incomes. Their payments cover accommodation, care and essential living costs, leaving only a modest personal allowance. However, when transport fails, they can be left having to cover the cost of taxis themselves. In some cases, individuals cannot travel independently, as the Member outlined, meaning that the cost must cover both their own fare and that of an escort, resulting in multiple journeys at a significant cost. Even then, not all taxi providers can accommodate certain wheelchairs. For some, it may be an option, but, for the majority, it is neither practical nor accessible. A fallback to taxis when transport fails is not sustainable or acceptable.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important Adjournment debate. I thank my constituency colleague Joanne Bunting MLA for securing it. <BR /> <BR />As we have heard, Edgcumbe is a vital day centre that supports adults over the age of 18, many of whom have complex support needs. Attendance provides structure, routine and social engagement that underpin well-being and independence and provides families with much-needed respite. When transport works, the system works. When it does not, the impact is felt immediately. <BR /> <BR />There have been repeated issues with unreliability, including buses not arriving and cancellations at short notice. For those who depend heavily on routine, that sudden disruption can cause real distress.”
“There were strong views that the policy was the wrong approach by the UK Government, and it is good that we have finally seen a U-turn on it.”
“The warm healthy homes fund is one example of where that commitment needs to be real and sustained. At its heart, however, the motion is about fairness. It is about ensuring that a child's future is not determined by the order in which they were born, and it is about removing a policy that has caused real harm. We support the LCM and, like the Member opposite, are keen to hear more from the Minister regarding the communication plan and that there is no impact on transitional protection. <BR /> <BR />I was delighted to hear that Ms Mulholland managed to get the "North Star" comment in from our Committee briefing. This is, as the Member opposite on his birthday highlighted, a good day, but it is a policy that we should not have been debating.”
“There has been broad support from across civic society for scrapping the policy, which reflects what many of us have heard from constituents, and it is the right decision. At the same time, we should be clear, as we have heard from other Members, that passing the LCM should not be the end of the conversation. Those who gave evidence to the Committee rightly highlighted the need for proper implementation, clear communication with claimants, and careful consideration of how this change interacts with other parts of our system. That is sensible and necessary. <BR /> <BR />If we are serious about tackling poverty, this step must sit alongside wider action, including delivery through our anti-poverty and fuel poverty strategies. Ambition must be matched by funding.”
“Families are struggling to afford basics such as healthy food or keeping the heating on. That is something that we see week in and week out through our constituency offices and through the support that, I know, many of us have helped to deliver, such as the Bryson support scheme with electricity. People are reaching out simply because they cannot stretch their budgets any further. <BR /> <BR />This change is an important step, but it must form part of a broader and more joined-up approach to tackling poverty. If we are serious about making a lasting and meaningful impact, it cannot stop here. This important step should send a clear message that our social security system exists to protect children and provide stability when it is needed most. It should not compound difficulties or make already challenging circumstances worse.”
“Like previous Members who spoke, I welcome and speak in support of the legislative consent motion. The two-child limit was not a technical tweak to tax credits or, later, universal credit. It was a significant policy change that has increased poverty and placed additional pressure on households, many of which were already struggling. In practice, it pushed families further into hardship, left parents facing impossible choices and reduced the support available to children. <BR /> <BR />The evidence presented to the Committee for Communities, highlighted by the Chair and other Members, reaffirmed the scale of the impact that the policy has had. Advice organisations and those working on the front line set out plainly how it deepened poverty and caused genuine distress.”
“There has been suggestion in various arenas that the Minister has taken a different approach to the language strategy compared with that which he has taken to other strategies. Can he set out whether the approach that he and the Department have taken has been the same across the board?”
“Will the Minister enlighten the House as to whether those from political unionism were involved in that funding agreement, because some with a short memory have tried to make out that they were not?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. The previous contributor would not, although I know that the decision on whether to do so is the prerogative of each Member. For the benefit of the House, even though it has already been stated, will the Member remind us of the make-up of the Executive back in 2011 when the original commitment to regional stadia, including Casement, was made?”
“I am therefore keen to hear more from the Minister about how clawback would work in practice, notwithstanding the unintended consequences for stadia and other projects that are already under construction. I look forward to hearing from the Minister on that.”
“The Member knows full well what I am referring to. He should not try to put words into my mouth. <BR /> <BR />We are also content, in principle, to support the Member for West Belfast's amendment, which broadens the scope, notwithstanding the concern that the proposer of the motion raised. Revenue-sharing mechanisms have been used elsewhere, as others have highlighted, although the details will need to be carefully considered, not least as they relate to the amendment. <BR /> <BR />There is a clear difference between hosting major concerts and routine room hire, and the practical implications of any mechanism must work in practice and not have any unintended consequences.”
“When public funding is provided, the Minister and the Department must demonstrate that it meets the value-for-money test. That is not optional. Rather, it is a fundamental requirement when using public expenditure, and it applies to every project, not just Casement Park. If further money is provided, many will understandably question that decision, particularly those who are waiting on housing or for investment in essential infrastructure. That is the reality of the Budget context in which we are operating. On the principle of clawback, a requirement to recover a proportion of revenues that arise from non-GAA use is something worth considering. Where public money underwrites a venue that will host major commercial events, it is reasonable to examine whether a proportion of revenues should be returned to the public purse.”
“<BR /> <BR />Every day, our constituents rightly highlight the length of housing waiting lists, school buildings that are no longer fit for purpose and roads that are in a shocking state, to mention but a few issues. Members across the House no doubt have similar examples that they will wish to highlight. Every time that we consider allocating further capital funding, we need to be honest about what that decision will mean for other priorities. Our position has been consistent throughout: the original commitment should be honoured — we are not arguing to tear it up — but we do not support the provision of additional public funds for Casement Park in the current fiscal climate, given the competing pressures that we face. <BR /> <BR />I will turn to the clawback element of the motion.”
“It is too easy, and perhaps convenient, for some to reduce it to a simple political narrative or to level a charge of sectarianism. <BR /> <BR />The cost reality is more complex than that. The Executive have committed over £60 million, the UK Government £50 million, the Irish Government up to €50 million and the GAA £15 million. That is a commitment in the region of £170 million, which is more than the combined fund for the regional stadia programme. Acknowledging that fact, however, does not remove the issue that we face today. The projected cost has increased significantly from the original commitment and plan, and we are debating the matter at a time when capital budgets are under real pressure.”
“At the outset, I say that there are a number of elements to the motion. Before I turn to the substance of the motion and the amendment, it is important to turn to the history of Casement Park itself. <BR /> <BR />The project did not reach its current cost estimate because of one decision or one party. There were planning challenges and court proceedings. The original planning was quashed. There were redesigns and safety issues that had to be addressed, and there was a period when the Assembly and the Executive were not functioning. Then, as we all know, the costs of construction and inflation rose sharply. Anyone involved in capital projects over the years knows how dramatically costs have increased. The most significant delays, however, stemmed from planning and safety considerations, and that is part of the factual record.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I do not know whether other Members are like me in seeing an increase in fly-tipping and illegal dumping across their constituencies, but there seems to be an upsurge. Minister, will you indicate the annual cost to the public purse of that practice? What are you doing to ensure that the criminals, not the public, pay for it?”
“The First Minister has rightly called out abuse when it has been directed at politicians and other members of society. Will she join me in calling out abuse directed at members of the armed forces as being wrong and intolerable, and stating that those who are behind it should face the consequences?”
“I thank the Minister for his detailed statement. Minister, you referred to the £16·7 million provided to your Department as "insufficient". Can you provide the House with clarity as to the scale of funding that you require?”
“One of the items on the agenda was the staffing complement. Will the Minister expand on the role that his Department has played in relation to the staffing complement and outline how much funding has been provided for that?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he recognise the value of continued assessment when approaching the transfer from primary to post-primary education?”
“On the theme of the draft multi-year Budget, I ask the deputy First Minister for her assessment of that multi-year Budget when it comes to delivering for those in housing need. There is a Programme for Government (PFG) commitment and a housing supply strategy, but the funding does not seem to be there to deliver the amount of housing that is needed for our people.”
“In several of her answers, the Minister referred to the need to deliver active travel safely. What recent steps has the Department taken to ensure that active travel is delivered in a way that is safe for all members of our society, including those with a disability, so that we do not see a repeat of examples such as the dangerous bus stop boarder on the Dublin Road?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Indeed, it is welcome progress. The Minister has highlighted that it is a positive step for inclusion and equality. In that context, Minister, what engagement have you or your officials had with the Department for Communities on how we can go further and ensure that wider society is more accessible for people with disabilities?”
“I, too, declare an interest as a member of the disabled community. Minister, I thank you for getting the strategy to this point. However, many in the disabled community have highlighted to me the fact that the previous iteration of the strategy, 2012-15, which was extended to 2017, did not deliver the tangible benefits for the disabled community that it desired to do. Minister, how can you ensure that this strategy will deliver real and tangible benefits for the disabled community; and, if I may ask, when did the scoping work on disability law reform commence?”
“I thank the Communities Minister for his answer. Minister, the question refers to tackling fuel poverty, so will you elaborate on the analysis that the Department has done of how those initiatives have driven down fuel poverty?”
“I declare an interest as a military veteran. I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer. What further steps are available to the Executive to oversee governance and accountability and to make sure that, where disadvantage arises, it is tackled and addressed head-on?”
“I do not have all the information to hand, but 52 members of staff are trained in first aid. The use of defibrillators does not require first aid training but is covered in the first aid training. The Assembly Commission will continually keep that under review. The Assembly Commission regularly — yearly, I believe — invites additional staff to undertake that training.”
“The Assembly Commission currently has five defibrillators, all of which were registered with the British Heart Foundation’s national defibrillator network, The Circuit, on 19 September 2025. The devices are routinely checked and maintained to ensure that they are always ready for use.”
“I encourage the Member — indeed, any Member — to write to the Commission with further points, and we can take those points into consideration.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I thank the Member for his follow-up question. Indeed, the purpose of the drill was exactly for the reason that he outlined: there were those who are frequently in the Building but may not have participated in a drill previously. Several issues — I appreciate that the Member raised some — were identified during the drill, including a shortage of fire wardens and staff trained to operate evacuation chairs, as well as uncertainty among some Members and staff about their designated muster points. Building users should proceed to the numbered marker on the front lawn that corresponds to the floor on which they work, such as the basement, the ground floor, the first floor and so on.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission conducted a planned fire drill on Monday 29 September 2025. Building users evacuated the Building between 11.00 am and 11.09 am. All Building users were back in the Building by 11.16 am. While the drill was successful overall, as with every such exercise, a list of improvements requiring attention has been compiled, and those have been or are being implemented by the health and safety team in collaboration with colleagues across relevant business areas. It was the first such fire drill to be carried out on a sitting day, enabling the Assembly Commission to ensure the widest possible participation and to help familiarise all Building users with the evacuation procedures.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does the Minister envisage that, with his current budget envelope, he will be in a position to provide further capital funding to allow that fund to reach more of the groups that are providing impactful work in communities daily?”
“Would the First Minister like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone in her party or otherwise to come forward with any information that they may have that may assist the police in their further investigations?”
“In his earlier remarks, the Minister highlighted the increase in the threshold from £15,000 to £15,390 for those in receipt of universal credit. Will he inform the House how he arrived at that increase?”
“The Member highlights the point about where we will take the money from to provide that required investment, but will he also acknowledge the importance of investing to save right across Departments — health inequalities, for example, can be tackled if we invest to save?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. Does he anticipate that that reform will include strengthened protections for homeowners who face unclear service charges, disputes or poor management?”
“I thank the Minister for restating his press release, which I already read. The question that I asked was about what engagement he has had with the Treasury on the forthcoming Budget. If any measures are related directly to the cost of living, will the Minister give a guarantee that he will work with the Communities Minister to ensure that families and households here are supported?”
“Does the Member acknowledge that many of our young people are unaware of the dangers of fireworks and that, when they fall into their hands, their safety is jeopardised?”
“The Minister's statement rightly highlights the balance between the sale and consumption of alcohol and public health. He will recall that minimum unit pricing featured heavily in the debates during the passage of the legislation. What is the Minister's view on that policy? What engagement has he had with the Health Minister in that regard?”
“The Minister advised my Committee colleague on the other side of the House that housing association rents have already gone up. Can he guarantee the House that rents will not go up further as a result of the change? If I am not taking liberties by asking, what co-design approach — we often hear about such an approach — was undertaken with housing associations to arrive at the new rate?”
“Does the Minister acknowledge that my party's amendment highlights the fact that the anti-poverty strategy is an Executive strategy?”
“Does the Member have to hand the figure for the Education Minister's increase to the free school meals eligibility threshold?”
“Will the Member also recognise, when highlighting those products that have increased in price, that, as I said in my remarks, many have increased in size, so they do not last as long or go as far for families?”
“The cost-of-living crisis is not experienced through statistics alone; it is felt in households making choices that no one should have to make, parents skipping meals, children arriving at school hungry and families rationing heat and power. While we cannot control every global event, we can take decisions here that improve the circumstances of those who rely on us, and that is the purpose of the amendment. In that spirit, I commend the amendment to the Assembly.”
“The anti-poverty strategy is important work, but, to meet the scale of the challenges that we face, it needs firm, measurable, cross-departmental targets, particularly on food and fuel poverty, that are time-bound, transparent and informed by data and lived experience. That will help ensure that the strategy makes an impact rather than becoming a document filled with aspirations but lacking in delivery. <BR /> <BR />The amendment strengthens the motion by highlighting one of the most fundamental pressures that households face: the ability to afford food. It aligns with the motion's recognition of the vital work of the voluntary and community sector; it supports the call for a revised anti-poverty strategy; and it identifies practical, realistic actions that can be taken now to help families, particularly through the school system.”
“If we want to properly support the voluntary and community sector, we must address the pressures that drive people to its doors, including food and fuel insecurity, and our amendment reinforces that link. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge the pressures on unpaid carers. Northern Ireland has around 220,000 unpaid carers who provide support that saves the Executive an estimated £5·8 billion per year, yet they are among the groups most affected by rising costs. One in four carers lives in poverty, and, of those who receive carer's allowance, the number rises to almost half. Many carers are cutting back on the essentials, including food and heating.”
“That should be recognised and commended, but the scale and seriousness of the challenges mean that the final strategies must be as robust and ambitious as possible. There must be clear outcomes and measurable targets to give the strategies structure, direction, credibility and transparency. Families and organisations need to see where progress is made and where further action is required. <BR /> <BR />The voluntary and community sector also deserves recognition, and I declare an interest as a charity trustee. They are often the first to see the pressures facing families, and they support thousands of people every week. They contribute an estimated £1·71 in value for every pound that is invested, yet the sector reports rising demand, recruitment difficulties and burnout among its staff.”
“As we have already heard, National Energy Action NI has reported that nearly half of households are worried about their energy bills this winter; 39% are already in fuel poverty; and one in five households have gone without heat or power at least once in the last two years because they could not afford it. A quarter of households say that rising energy costs are harming their health and well-being, and those figures underline why robust anti-poverty and fuel poverty strategies with clear, measurable and time-bound targets are not just helpful but necessary. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge the work that the Minister has taken forward. He has moved the strategy further than many of his predecessors — it is fair to say that — and he has made progress in other areas, such as fuel poverty.”