Daniel McCrossan
West Tyrone · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Member for giving way. She has raised some points of interest. Aside from the Bill at hand, the Department of Finance currently collects rates from property owners across Northern Ireland. I have found that there can be difficulties with that when properties have been lying vacant for a significant period.”
“That applies in particular to those who have been land-banking over a period of time — that happens everywhere, unfortunately — with the hope that the big cash cow will be coming and, ultimately, they will be relieved of their responsibility to maintain, look after and enhance the landscape in a town or village by spending the necessary f…”
“As is often the case when we speak in the House, it may be that some ratepayers or members of the public will take it as a given that the Bill will be the silver bullet that will resolve the dilapidation issues in towns. Depending on which area you are in, the scale is very different.”
“We need to be creative in how we can put the Bill to task. <BR /> <BR />Certainly, as I have said, it is good policy. I have no question that the Bill is well intended.”
“<BR /> <BR />Addressing dilapidation is not simply a matter for local government in isolation. The responsibility lies with the Executive as a whole. The Executive have had their eyes closed to this matter for too long, and many of our buildings have deteriorated significantly across council areas over a long period.”
“That encourages private investment, and there is natural enhancement from those investors. However, in areas that lag behind because of economic decline, underinvestment and general deprivation, many towns and cities can quickly become the poor cousin.”
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“I will not, Jonny, although, to be honest, you are more than entertaining. <BR /> <BR />It is high time that, if we are really going to have a meaningful discussion about the future of this place, unionism is honest with itself.”
“You had your opportunity, Steve, and it was the same rumpled, old unionist line: "We must remain in the United Kingdom, but we cannot tell you why". <BR /> <BR />However, they can tell you what is wrong with the UK. They tell us every single day that the health service is a disaster, that our schools and roads are crumbling and that we are underfunded. In fact, they have just said that all we get from the British Government are crumbs from the table. The DUP has never really been happy with many British Governments, particularly the most recent Tory Government, when it was tricked into Brexit and accepted a huge cheque for nearly a billion pounds, yet it still cannot tell us what the benefits of Brexit have been.”
“I did not intend to speak in the debate, but some of what has been said in the House deserves to be challenged. Members are giving the leader of the Opposition a fantastic birthday treat today, as he celebrates another year: happy birthday to Matthew. <BR /> <BR />It is important to point out that, whilst DUP Members are very quick to get to their feet to challenge the SDLP's vision for the island and the future of all our people, they do a poor job in laying out their stall as to why we should remain a part of the United Kingdom. In fact, unionism is united in that course, because I am yet to hear any positive contribution from unionist Members as to what is delivered by the UK or the British Government. What we hear daily —”
“I thank the Member for giving way. For someone who talks up the importance of remaining in the United Kingdom, he does a great job of pointing out the reasons that we should leave it, particularly when he mentions the state of our health service, our schools and our roads and the cost of living. Does the Member not realise that his party has been in government for 20 years, presiding over this disastrous nightmare of a place?”
“<BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the people who have kept the club alive, such as Seamus McElroy, Renie McElroy and Pat Henderson. It is a great project; in fact, it is exactly the sort of project that Sinn Féin politicians praise whenever the cameras are on. When it comes to actually delivering it, however, delays suddenly start, excuses begin and people suffer the consequences. The people of Strabane are tired of waiting and watching the Department hide behind paperwork while local people do the heavy lifting. It is time that Sinn Féin, with the big mandate that it has in West Tyrone, did something for the people of Strabane. When it comes to Strabane Athletic and the A5 —”
“<BR /> <BR />The Planning Appeals Commission hearing finally took place in September, and the report of that has, to my knowledge, been sitting on the Minister for Infrastructure's desk since November 2025. It is now months later, and we are still waiting. The Minister for Infrastructure has not answered questions from me as the MLA for the constituency. Those questions go unanswered. There has been no decision and no explanation. There is no urgency whatever. Meanwhile, the people behind the club have spent tens of thousands of pounds to try to get this over the line. Local volunteers have given years of their lives and their effort for what? To be ignored by government. That is what it feels like. Communities west of the Bann feel ignored.”
“Nothing but delays — no responses to questions but total silence and disrespect. <BR /> <BR />The planning application for the stadium was submitted in February 2018: eight years ago. Think about that. In those eight years, young players have grown up and left school, and some have started families of their own, while the project still sits, trapped by a ridiculous system. It is a positive project that will have huge benefits for the people I represent. There were no objections to the application. It had overwhelming community backing and was unanimously supported by the planning committee in Derry City and Strabane District Council, but the Department decided to call it in anyway and has sat on it for the years since. The same has happened with a Lidl application in the city of Derry: eight years on a desk.”
“I am going to speak about the disgraceful way in which a club in my constituency — Strabane Athletic Football Club (AFC) — has been treated by the Department for Infrastructure and its Sinn Féin Minister. The club has just delivered one of the proudest moments in its history, winning the North West Senior Cup for the first time ever and bringing the trophy home to Strabane following a brilliant season on the pitch. By all accounts, Strabane AFC is a community club, built by hundreds of volunteers and players and driven by local people who genuinely care about giving young people opportunities and building something positive for the future. While the club delivers success after success on the pitch, building by the day, what does it get back from the Sinn Féin-led Government?”
“Minister, as you well know, SEN families are at breaking point. Parents are not asking for any special treatment here, just basic support. They wait months and sometimes years for that intervention. Children are in limbo and parents are forced to fight. Teachers are stretched beyond capacity. Meanwhile, support in the South is getting to our children earlier without the same barriers or bureaucracy. Do you accept that the system continues to fail families? When will you stop talking about reform and deliver it for those who are affected?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. I welcome your acknowledgement that previous interventions have failed to deliver meaningful change, which is a good admission given that your party has led the Department for over a decade. <BR /> <BR />What immediate, measurable actions will be implemented in the next 12 months to reduce the teacher workload in practice? How will those be independently monitored and reported? What direct impact do you expect it to have on classroom standards, special educational needs provision and, most importantly, the outcomes for our pupils, given the growing concerns from families that repeated reform announcements have not translated into real improvements in children's education?”
“Whilst we support the motion and the amendment, we do so on the basis that this must be part of a wider, coherent strategy; one that brings all the necessary measures together, one that listens to the farming community, and one that is focused, above all else, on delivering real and lasting reductions in bovine TB.”
“They also want to know that the significant cost to the taxpayer is being used effectively and that we are moving towards a system that is sustainable in the long term.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the issue of wildlife intervention, I want to be careful and considered. There is a role for intervention, but it must be guided by evidence, properly designed and proportionate. This is not about lifting one approach and assuming that it will work here; it is about ensuring that any measures taken are effective and sustainable and command public and stakeholder confidence. There are a range of interventions that can and should be considered, including vaccination and other measures. The key point is that decisions must be based on sound science and evidence and the clear understanding of what will deliver results in our context. <BR /> <BR />Ultimately, what farmers want is progress on this. They want to see a plan that reduces the disease, protects their herds and gives them a future.”
“It has pointed out that the proposed pilot area may not be representative of the wider Northern Ireland picture. If that is indeed the case, there is a real risk that we end up with results that are skewed and not applicable across the region. That is a legitimate concern that the Department must heed and address. Farmers need clarity. They need to know in advance what measures will be compulsory, what will be voluntary and what the practical implications will be for their businesses. In particular, there must be clear communication on how movement in and out of any pilot area will operate. We cannot have a situation where farmers are being asked to sign up to a scheme without fully understanding the impact that it will have on them. Confidence in the process will be built only through transparency, clarity and engagement.”
“The evidence is clear that the disease is driven by a combination of cattle transmission and wildlife factors. That means that the response must be equally comprehensive. We need to see progress across a full range of measures. That includes stronger and more effective testing regimes; better biodiversity on our farms; movement controls that are workable and proportionate; and continued progress towards vaccination both in cattle and in wildlife. What farmers need is not one headline measure but a strategy that is coordinated, sustained and capable of delivering real reductions in the disease. <BR /> <BR />It is also important that we acknowledge the concerns being raised by the farming community. It has been referenced that the Ulster Farmers’ Union has highlighted serious issues with the current regionalisation proposals.”
“Bovine tuberculosis remains a serious and persistent challenge facing our farming community. It costs in excess of £60 million a year. It puts pressure on family farms, strain on livelihoods and real stress on those working day and night to keep their business going. Behind every breakdown is a farmer dealing with uncertainty, financial loss and, too often, a serious toll on their mental health and well-being. <BR /> <BR />To be clear from the outset, it is an issue that demands urgency, seriousness and a response that is grounded in evidence and will work in practice. We will support the motion, but it is important that we also recognise the complexity of the challenge that is front of the Assembly. There is no single cause of bovine tuberculosis, and there is no single solution.”
“The majority of homes across Northern Ireland rely on oil heating, so a huge number of issues need to be resolved. Hopefully, this will set out a clear pathway, but it must be fair. For it to be fair, it has to be realistic, and the plan has to bring people with it. <BR /> <BR />We will support this important motion because climate action matters. Many climate deniers should recognise that climate action is absolutely necessary. Fairness also matters just as much. If we are going to ask people to adapt to change and to play their part, we have a responsibility to make sure that that transition is properly supported, is realistic and, above all, is just.”
“He is passionate about the subject, as Members will know. He points to a fundamental concern that people have. A lot of what is happening today that is affecting the cost of living, including energy prices, is beyond our control because individuals in the White House — one in particular — are on a reckless agenda. We are all paying the price for his madness. The world is in a strange place. It is in a state of flux, and, unfortunately, that is being felt daily in the homes of people across our society. <BR /> <BR />It is important — we could be world-leading in this — that we look at ways of becoming self-sustaining where we do not have to reverse into greater reliance on fossil fuels and undo a lot of the great work that has been done on moving our community away from them. That said, we need to be realistic about where we are today.”
“Too often, places such as west of the Bann, my constituency of West Tyrone and Patsy's constituency of Mid Ulster feel like an afterthought. A just transition means that that can no longer happen. <BR /> <BR />At its core, it is about trust: trust that government will act fairly; trust that people will be supported through the change; and trust that no community will be left behind. That is where the Executive and the Department must do more than set targets; they must show clearly how people will be supported in real, practical terms. If that trust is not there, no strategy, no matter how well written, will succeed.”
“We should remember that small businesses in our communities are the largest employer in Northern Ireland. Unless people feel heard, they will not buy into the changes that are needed. People need to feel that their views are being considered and understood. <BR /> <BR />We also need to recognise that there is opportunity here. We are clear on that. If done properly, which the Minister is absolutely dedicated to doing, the transition to a low-carbon economy can create good, secure jobs — jobs that we would all like to see — drive innovation, as my colleague pointed out, and strengthen our economy for the long term. However, that will not happen by accident. It requires clear thinking, proper planning and a commitment to fairness. That includes making sure that every region benefits, not just some.”
“Absolutely, Patsy. That is a well made point. I also note that the Minister referenced the planning improvement plan. Whilst a plan is important, planning improvement action would be much more appreciated. It is a major blockage to people and really needs to be resolved; in fact, a lot of people would be achieving their own targets if some of those hurdles were removed much more swiftly. <BR /> <BR />We also need to listen to small businesses that are trying to do the right thing. They need a lot of clarity and support. I declare an interest as a company director of a hospitality business. It is not an easy time for anybody in business. There are huge pressures, many of them external and beyond our control. However, there are also things that we can do to assist those at the coalface in our community who do a difficult job.”
“Yes, it certainly does, Minister. I am always happy to give way to you. However, you will also understand that there is great frustration with the NIEA. We are well aware of what its responsibilities are. Whether it is carrying out its responsibilities in a timely fashion or responding to people in a timely fashion is entirely another question.”
“Unfortunately, as I have said, the frustrations that I hear on the ground are about the planning process and about the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA ) and, often, other government structures being the blockage to any purposeful and meaningful change.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said, the commission cannot become just another body that meets occasionally or produces reports and then disappears into the background; it must be active and visible. It needs to engage properly with people on the ground. That means listening to workers who are worried about their livelihoods; listening to the rural communities for which my colleague Mr McGlone advocates daily; listening to rural dwellers who feel that decisions are often made without them being considered; and, of course, listening to small businesses that are trying to do the right thing but need clarity and support and to be met halfway. We often talk about people having to make the necessary change and transition.”
“Absolutely. As a representative of a rural constituency, I wholeheartedly agree with the points made by my colleague Mr McGlone. It comes back to the point that this cannot be simply about producing another report for the sake of it; tangible action and outcomes are needed to ensure that that is the case. Any plan needs to be duly resourced in order to ensure the best possible outcomes for those affected. It also goes without saying that resources must be put in place to ensure that any recommendations from such reports can be implemented. We also have to be conscious that local government, the planning system and others are often the greatest blockage in any transition.”
“People do not want to hear about targets or strategies; they want to know what it means each day for them and their job, their farm, their business, their future or their family. <BR /> <BR />The commission is responsible for helping to answer those questions and bringing clarity where there has been none. Just as important is that it has to make sure that the people most affected are part of shaping the answers. However, let us be honest about it: it cannot become another body that meets occasionally, produces reports and then disappears into the background.”
“I support the regulations. The SDLP believes in a just transition. Quite simply, it means fairness. If we are serious about tackling climate change, we also need to be serious about how we bring people with us on that journey. The reality is that not everyone will feel the impact of climate action in the same way; it will affect everyone differently. Some workers will feel more exposed; some industries will face bigger changes; many farmers will face uncertainty; and a lot of families will come under more pressure because of the cost of living. If we get it wrong, we risk asking those who can least afford it to carry the heaviest burden, which people will not accept. That is why the commission matters and is important.”
“The A5 is a priority for the SDLP — I talk about it every day — for reasons that are well rehearsed, but it is time that Sinn Féin actually delivered something. This weekend, I did not hear one thing that Sinn Féin has delivered after 20 years in government in the North.”
“<BR /> <BR />The message that I am getting from the electorate across West Tyrone, regardless of what has been said at the pulpit by the First Minister, the Infrastructure Minister or others, is that, if Sinn Féin does not deliver the road, the people of Tyrone, Fermanagh, Derry and Donegal will not forgive them. Sinn Féin is in a prime position to deliver the project. We do not want to hear the same regurgitated messages about how it supports the A5 project; we want to see Sinn Féin put its money where its mouth is and get it done. The mistakes surrounding the A5 could have been avoided: they were entirely avoidable. Unfortunately, it comes down to incompetence in government, a lack of proper and meaningful leadership and too much talk and not enough action.”
“The First Minister said that no stone would be left unturned, and the Minister for Infrastructure talked about how much of a priority it is. Equally, local representatives were at the pulpit. People are not falling for that rehashed, regurgitated, false promise any longer. Sinn Féin has the power to deliver the A5; it has been in power for 20 years. The only problem is that it does not seem to realise that with power comes responsibility. It has the ability to deliver the road but seems to struggle. You have to question whether Sinn Féin has what it takes to do what is right when it comes to the A5. The fingerprints of failure are all over the A5, and they are the fingerprints of Sinn Féin.”
“There is growing frustration in my West Tyrone constituency at the delays to the A5 project. People are anxious for its future. No matter how much reassurance is given from the SDLP and others who advocate daily for the delivery of the A5, the actions, or lack thereof, from those in power in the Executive tell a different story. The A5 project is vital not just for ensuring the safety of people who travel on that road but as an economic lever to bring some equality to the part of the island on which I reside. People are desperate to see it. <BR /> <BR />When watching the Sinn Féin ard fheis, at the weekend, you struggled to believe that it is a party that has led in government for over 20 years. Its members stand at the pulpit, year in, year out, making and rehashing promises. What featured this weekend was the A5.”
“Rather than the Punch and Judy show that goes on in this place between the two lead partners in government, who have all the power and authority that they demand from our people at elections, it is high time that they got up, took some action, took some responsibility, got money out to the people who need it, supported our workers and families and stood with the people instead of poking each other in the eye and finding excuses for why they are so useless.”
“Please come out and vote for us", but, when it comes to it, it says, "We can do nothing for you, folks". That is the message that it is sending out. <BR /> <BR />This is an all-island economy. In the South, Sinn Féin is calling for votes of no confidence, claiming that the Irish Government are failing people. My God, call a vote of no confidence in yourselves, because you are a disaster when it comes to crisis after crisis. Sinn Féin is good at covering up the fact that, after every problem, it seems to pile one crisis on top of another and blames everyone else for the huge pile of ... behind it. That is the problem. A real crisis is happening to our people today.”
“I see, on the Lifford side of the border, Sinn Féin representatives saying, "The Irish Government are terrible; they are doing nothing. Where is the support for our businesses and farmers?", while, on the Strabane side, the three MLAs and the MP say nothing. The Sinn Féin-run constituency and the Sinn Féin party that runs the Executive, having the First Minister, the Economy Minister, the Infrastructure Minister and the Finance Minister, do nothing. They are nowhere to be seen. Families cut back on the basics, workers count every penny and carers wonder how they will keep going, but what does Sinn Féin do? It points to the Brits on one side and the Irish Government on the other and says, "Nothing to see here". It says, "We want the power; we want the mandate.”
“What do we get from Sinn Féin and the DUP? Zero. Nothing. Zilch. We get Punch and Judy politics, delay and excuses, no plans, no urgency and no action: just a watery letter to the British Government saying, "Please, sir, can we have some more?". It is a simple cover for inaction. They use social media as a tool to distract from the fact that they have been a disaster in government. While people are being pushed to the brink, around £100 million is sitting there untouched: £17 million for fuel support — not used, no plan, no strategy — and £81 million for electricity pressures — not used, no plan, no strategy. Let that sink in. <BR /> <BR />Whilst I have the great pleasure of representing the wonderful people of West Tyrone, I live in the border area, and I see what happens. I cross the border every day. It is non-existent.”
“Anyone watching the previous contributors would be in deep shock to understand that they are both from the lead parties in this disastrous Executive. Let us cut through some of the spin. As we speak, people are being hammered by soaring fuel costs, and the Executive are doing absolutely zero about it. Families are struggling to fill their cars, workers are questioning whether it is even worth going to work, while small businesses are being squeezed to breaking point. The farming community has spoken out very clearly today about the rising costs that it simply cannot absorb.”
“Minister, in the past year, £10 million has been spent on private ambulance providers. Would that money not be better spent on the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service?”
“<BR /> <BR />Our farmers are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for fairness and recognition. They are asking for support that reflects the reality of the work that they do every day. I believe that the Bill, with its good intention, is a step in that direction, but it must be backed with funding. It must be strengthened, and it must deliver. We will support the Bill if Sinn Féin puts its money where its mouth is and invests.”
“I will not. <BR /> <BR />It could support the Bill today in principle, improve it and ensure that it is properly funded. Indeed, Mr McAleer could have a conversation with the Finance Minister to secure the funding for his Sinn Féin Bill. In doing so — by working together collectively in that aim — you could send a clear message to the farming community that, when crunch comes to crunch, we are on its side. <BR /> <BR />We support the Bill because it recognises disadvantage, acknowledges the value of upland farming and begins to address the real need. However, we will work to improve the Bill to ensure that it delivers not just income support but a sustainable future. Ultimately, it is about three things: viable farm businesses; resilient rural communities; and landscapes that continue to deliver for generations to come.”
“I will not. The Member was not generous in giving way earlier, so I am not going to bother. <BR /> <BR />It feeds a growing concern across rural Northern Ireland. Alliance understands policy on paper, apparently, but it does not understand farming in practice. Anyone who speaks to farmers knows that support for areas with natural constraints is not a luxury. For many farmers, it is the difference between survival and going under, so let us be clear: Alliance can dress it up as caution if it likes, but it is a political choice. It could support the Bill today —.”
“That is not balanced. It is not equality; it is not fair; and it is very one-sided.”
“The Bill can be shaped, added to and amended. By opposing the Bill now, Alliance is effectively saying no, and it is saying no to the very farmers who need support the most: hill farmers, upland farmers and family farms working some of the most difficult land anywhere in these islands. They are not profitable businesses; they are the most vulnerable. They are essential to sustaining rural communities. However, what makes it worse is the contradiction at the heart of Alliance's approach today. It is quick to support more environmental regulation and to increase expectations on farmers, but, when it comes to providing financial support to help farmers meet those expectations, it steps back and sits down. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot pile pressure on farmers on one hand and then oppose targeted support on the other.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party's position on the Bill tells us a lot, and none of it is reassuring for the farming community. Before the legislation even has a chance to be properly scrutinised, before it has gone to Committee formally, before any amendments can be proposed, Alliance is preparing to vote it down. Not to improve or shape it but to block it — and, let us be honest, with the DUP, it probably has a chance of doing that today. The argument that Alliance is putting forward does not stack up. It says that it has concerns about funding, delivery and the detail, but that is exactly what Committee Stage is for. That is what the scrutiny process is for. Second Stage is about one simple question: do we support farmers in areas of natural constraint, yes or no? That is the key question today.”
“Harsh decisions have been made in the Assembly in relation to funding. When it comes to an election, we will see a load of these sweets appearing, dangled in front of the eyes of the electorate with no serious commitment to invest and no trace of the money. In fact, it is like walking into a car showroom and saying, "I think I'll drive away with that", but you have not got a pound to your name. There is a serious problem with that approach. The SDLP takes a different approach. We recognise that farmers are not the problem; they are part of the solution. They are central to food production, environmental stewardship, biodiversity, water quality and carbon management. However, none of that happens without viable farm businesses or if farmers are pushed to the brink.”
“They are not the easiest or most profitable of farms but farms that are under the greatest pressure, keeping rural communities alive in the most challenging of conditions, yet, when given the opportunity to restore that support, the DUP is stepping back. For a party that so often claims to stand with rural Northern Ireland, this is a moment that exposes a serious gap between rhetoric and reality. You cannot remove a scheme, watch stock numbers decline and farmers struggle, see pressure increase on family farms and then oppose efforts to put that right. That is not leadership, and it is not acknowledging a serious problem. You have a choice today, and you should support the Bill to the next stage, where it can be shaped. <BR /> <BR />We need to reflect on how it is that we are in this place.”
“<BR /> <BR />I heard my colleague Ms McIlveen say that Sinn Féin has politicised this issue. I would argue that both lead parties in government have politicised the issue, first by removing it in the way that it was removed and now by bringing it back without any formal financial commitment. They have turned what should have been practical support for struggling farms into a political decision and, ultimately, a ping-pong match. Today, we see the doubling down on that mistake, because the Bill is about one simple principle: do we support farmers in areas with natural constraints? The answer to that is yes or no, and that will be determined by the vote today.”
“On those farms, beef cattle numbers have dropped by 21%, and, in the past year alone, we have seen a further fall of 5% in beef cattle and 7% in sheep. That is the real-world impact of decisions taken by this place. That is what happens when support is stripped away. I have to ask, therefore, what exactly is behind the DUP's position today? We see daily that the DUP supports farmers, but here we are talking about a vulnerable group in the farming community that is being directly affected by a decision taken by the DUP that the DUP is willing to double down on today. Indeed, my constituency colleague, Mr Buchanan, and, indeed, Mr McAleer, the proposer of the Bill, know full well how rural farmers in West Tyrone who are in these difficult situations are affected, because we hear from them every day.”
“It was celebrated and campaigned for, but, ultimately, the legislation was unfunded and unaffordable, according to the Minister for Health, so much so that we now face delaying its implementation again. I am concerned that that is the risk with this Bill: that we raise expectations among genuinely struggling farmers, only to leave them disappointed when the funding fails to materialise, and that would be a failure of the Assembly again for those relying on us to do something to support them. <BR /> <BR />The position being taken by the DUP on the Bill is disappointing but not surprising, given that it was the DUP that removed the ANC scheme in 2018. It took targeted support away from farmers working the most marginal land — farmers who rely on that support not as a bonus by as a necessity. What has followed since?”
“Surely Mr McAleer, a good constituency colleague of mine, did not just come out with the Bill, well-intentioned as it is. I assume that there was a conversation between him and the Sinn Féin Finance Minister about how it would be paid for. It would be reassuring if the Member could clarify that for the House in this debate. <BR /> <BR />There is real concern about being seen to act rather than actually following through. In the past, some Bills have been not just about delivering a solution but about delivering headlines. We have seen where that leads. In fact, it is a topical point, given the business of the House this week, because we saw that with the hospital car parking legislation passed at the end of the previous mandate. In fact, it was passed on the final day of the mandate.”
“Good intentions alone, however, are not enough. That is why there are questions for the Bill sponsor and, indeed, his party, which is in government, because it is their private Member's Bill, and it will require new and sustained financial investment that Members across the House have questioned. The obvious question is this: has the Sinn Féin Finance Minister committed to funding this important legislation? Have there been conversations with the Finance Minister about the Sinn Féin Member's Bill? Has any commitment been secured, or are we being asked to support a Bill for which the funding simply does not exist? It would be naïve — in fact, it would be foolish — to believe that no conversations have taken place in Sinn Féin on that.”