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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“Farmers understand that sustainability is the only way in which to ensure that the next generation can continue to work and live off the land. <BR /> <BR />It is not just a failure of the farming community but a multifaceted, complex mess in which many people have contributed to the disastrous situation. It is therefore not about pointing the finger at farmers, or even at NI Water, but about taking action to resolve the crisis. The crisis is not theoretical. It is not distant. The crisis is choking the largest freshwater lake on these islands with toxic blue-green algae. It is human-induced blue-green algae. Fisheries have been forced to close, tourism businesses are collapsing and families are being told not to swim in what was once a beautiful lough, not to walk dogs near it and not to touch the water. Wildlife is being wiped out.”
“Let me be clear, however, that it was the DUP that stoked farmers' tensions and wound them up to the hilt about the consultation, so much so that a lot of the things that were said were not wholly accurate. The consultation has gone ahead, however, and the Minister was right to ignore the petty politicking of some parties in the House. <BR /> <BR />Let me reaffirm something as an MLA for a rural constituency: farmers are the backbone of our rural economy and our rural community. They face massive challenges, and absolutely do since the bonkers Brexit that the DUP supported. They deserve support and fairness, but they also deserve honesty from the DUP, which they are not getting. They also know, perhaps better than anyone, that a poisoned Lough Neagh helps no one.”
“They talk about the urgency of fixing Lough Neagh, the responsibility that needs to be taken and the leadership that must be shown, Then, when the election dust has settled, they walk through the doors of the Chamber and look the other way. They vote against and attempt to block consultations that will allow feedback to go to the Minister and the Department to make an informed decision about the appropriate way forward. They choose politics and virtue signalling over the environment and scaremongering and Trump's fake news over fact. That is the reality of how the Executive function. <BR /> <BR />Indeed, the DUP talked about farmers for a fair bit of the debate. All of us recognise the vital role that farmers play in each and all our communities.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. This was a fascinating debate. Not only did some Members manage to sectarianise it by labelling farmers under their religion but we had the Gospel cited. Nigel Farage also made an appearance. There has therefore been quite a mixture of opinions shared today. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear from the outset, however, that what is happening at Lough Neagh is nothing short of an environmental disaster. It is an emergency that has been years in the making, caused by weak enforcement, failed leadership and an Executive who are more interested in managing headlines than fixing the problems that we face. Some Executive parties come before the cameras promising everything, particularly in the run-up to an election.”
“I thank my constituency colleague for kindly giving way. I recognise his concern for the farming community. He has rightly been an advocate for the farming community for quite a number of years. However, does he agree that the fines that are in place are no deterrent to those polluters, regardless of who they are or what sector they come from, and that they need to be increased?”
“I am settling quickly into this role, Minister. Thank you for that statement. You spoke about cross-border cooperation on reducing bovine TB. What practical measures will flow from that particular engagement? When will farmers in places such as Tyrone and Fermanagh begin to see a difference on the ground?”
“I thank the Minister for that statement. You have a busy day today, Minister. You outlined the Loughs Agency's work on water quality, invasive species and fisheries, but local anglers and fishing communities are telling us that rivers are in crisis. Will you explain how the agency's budget and resources are sufficient to meet the enormous challenges?”
“Minister, you spoke about collaboration and research, but people in the communities around Lough Neagh and the Foyle need urgent action. Rather than more strategy papers, what clear timelines and targets will come from the meeting to improve water quality and biodiversity?”
“Minister, you paint TransformED as a world-leading reform agenda, but the reality on the ground tells a different story. Teachers are demoralised, classrooms are overcrowded and schools are underfunded and crumbling. School inspection has been paralysed for years. Given that the Department of Education has been run by three different DUP Ministers over almost 10 years, how can you credibly claim that you are building a world-class system, when the basics of funding, staffing and accountability are in crisis? Is the strategy not little more than a glossy distraction from the fact that children and teachers are being failed every day by DUP Ministers and the disastrous Executive?”
“On a point of order. Mr Speaker. Will you review the comments that the Education Minister just made? I think that he has misled the House. He said that he was talking sense. I think that most of us would find that hard to believe.”
“It seems that I have hit a nerve, Minister, but here is some truth: SEN kids are being failed and schools are crumbling on your watch; you have lost a court case against the integrated education movement; and you continue to spin things to suit your own case. Is it not the truth, Minister, that you have treated the Department of Education like your personal fiefdom, pushing through divisive change without consensus, ignoring consultation responses and leaving parents, teachers and pupils to deal with the fallout? When will you start governing for the whole system rather than for your own narrow agenda?”
“I have never heard such silence from Sinn Féin in West Tyrone on this so-called priority. <BR /> <BR />People's lives are at risk daily. Let us get the road built. Let us ensure that lives are saved and give the west what it truly deserves and has waited long enough for. It is time that the Minister got on with that job.”
“They had 13 meetings, and still the Department produced a scheme that could not survive a legal challenge; 13 meetings, and still they did not manage to get it right. If that is not incompetence, what is it? PAC recommendations were ignored. Where is the accountability for those who presided over the project and led to that terrible failure? <BR /> <BR />The Minister has chosen silence as a response, but silence will not comfort the families who have lost loved ones. Silence will not reassure the people of west Tyrone, Derry and Donegal, who continue to risk their lives by travelling on that road daily, and silence will not deliver the A5. Let us be clear to the Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister: you must come out, give a statement and update people on where the project is.”
“It will cost £1·7 billion to connect Tyrone, Derry and Donegal safely with the rest of the island, yet, for almost 20 years, the project has been stuck in delay, tied up in court challenges and mismanaged at every turn. More than 50 people — 50 innocent lives — have been lost on that road while Ministers and Departments have dithered, delayed and failed to get the project over the line. <BR /> <BR />The mistakes that have halted the A5 are unforgivable. They stink of complete, utter and absolute incompetence by the Department. Over the summer, we learned that DFI officials met DAERA on the issue of climate compliance not seven times, as they originally told us on paper, but 13 times.”
“Since then, the silence from the Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister on that all-important issue has been deafening. <BR /> <BR />Several weeks ago, the Minister told the public that she would challenge the latest court ruling on the A5. Since then, all that we have heard is that an appeal has been submitted: no explanation, no plan, no indication whatever of how her Department intends to proceed or, crucially, how it intends to avoid making the exact same mistakes all over again. Families have not been updated, landowners have been left in limbo with their land in a terrible state, and accidents still happen on a daily basis. <BR /> <BR />It is not a minor scheme: the A5 is the most important infrastructure project in the North of Ireland.”
“The A5 project came to a grinding halt on 23 June 2025 as a result of a judicial review taken against the Department for Infrastructure.”
“His community respected him, the Assembly respected him and his colleagues across political divides respected him. That respect was earned through decades of service and integrity. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of the SDLP and personally, I extend deepest sympathies to Tommy's wife, Eileen, his family and their friends. Their loss is immense, but I hope that they can take comfort and have pride in knowing that he leaves behind a powerful legacy of service, decency, courage and compassion. Fermanagh is poorer for his loss, as is the Assembly, but we are all richer for having had the example of Tommy Gallagher before us. May he rest in peace.”
“Tommy never lost sight of what politics is ultimately about: improving the lives of people, standing up for those without a voice and making sure that government works fairly for everyone. That was Tommy Gallagher to his core. <BR /> <BR />Those of us who had the privilege of knowing him will remember more than his politics. We remember his warmth, decency, humour and generosity of spirit. He had a way of putting people at ease, finding common ground even in difficult debates and situations and reminding us all that at the heart of all our arguments and divisions were real people with real-life needs. The tributes that have poured in since his passing are testament to the impact that he has made not only as a dedicated public servant but as a neighbour, a friend and a family man.”
“As a founding member of the SDLP in Fermanagh, Tommy embodied the values of civil rights, fairness and non-violence. He worked to tackle rural neglect, to improve the infrastructure and public services that communities relied on and to ensure that the people in border areas were not left behind. He was particularly passionate about better roads and better healthcare and opportunities for so many young people. <BR /> <BR />Tommy was first elected to Fermanagh District Council in 1989 and then, later, to the Assembly, where he served with distinction. In Stormont, he carried himself with dignity, humility and purpose. He was never a man for grandstanding, but he was always a man for principle. His contributions were measured, thoughtful and deeply rooted in the needs of his constituents.”
“It took courage, conviction and a deep sense of responsibility to stand forward for public life in those years, but that was the measure of the man. He believed that politics could be a force for good. He believed passionately in using his voice to represent the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone.”
“Following colleagues from across the House, I pay tribute to a man who gave so much of himself to others. Tommy was, first and foremost, an educator. He dedicated years of his life to the classroom, shaping and inspiring the next generation of young people. His work as a teacher left an indelible mark on countless young people, many of whom went on to speak of the encouragement and guidance that they received from him. That instinct to nurture, care and help others to fulfil their potential carried over seamlessly into his political life and journey. <BR /> <BR />Tommy entered politics at a very difficult time in our history.”
“Thank you, Minister. You will appreciate that this is a serious issue for everybody concerned. Barnardo's and other stakeholders criticised you and your Department today for your failure to do what you committed to doing in the strategy. Fifty organisations have written to Ministers calling for the strategy to be withdrawn. The First Minister has said that the strategy should probably go further. What specific changes or proposals did she or her party colleagues make during those Executive discussions?”
“A quarter of all children — about 109,000 — live in relative poverty in the North. The Children's Commissioner, Chris Quinn, and Barnardo's think that the strategy should be rewritten so that it genuinely reflects the needs of children in low-income families. Minister, how many children are you aiming to bring out of poverty in the next three years through your strategy?”
“Minister, at any time, did you meet the former Minister for Infrastructure, John O'Dowd, prior to his approval of the A5 in October 2024 to discuss how the A5 project might meet its Climate Change Act obligations? If so, when did you meet?”
“First Minister, Monday's judgement on the A5 was deeply disappointing and frustrating for so many, especially the families who have lost loved ones. You keep saying that you will do everything, but your Ministers clearly did not do enough. The judge was critical of the Department and the Ministers for failing to do basic work and consultation, Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) warnings were ignored, and, as a result, Justice McAlinden said that more lives would be lost on the A5. First Minister, do you have faith in the ability of your Sinn Féin ministerial team to deliver the A5, and do you really believe, after the judgement, that Minister O'Dowd's position is tenable as an Executive Minister, given that he failed to do his job?”
“Minister, how on earth did your Department and your predecessor, John O'Dowd, fail so catastrophically with the basic requirements of what was needed for the project? What are you going to do about it now? I have not yet heard a solution.”
“Minister, the responsibility of any and all Governments is to protect the lives of their people. To be clear, the scale of avoidable mistakes by your Department is staggering. With a series of unforced errors, DFI ignored the Planning Appeals Commission's (PAC) clear recommendations, especially on human rights, climate duties and consultations and, without waiting for carbon budgets, sectoral plans or the CAP, in October your then Minister passed this on and put the project in jeopardy. <BR /> <BR />Chillingly, the judge said yesterday that more lives would be lost as a result of the ruling. Just to alert the DUP, observers have said since yesterday that the project can be delivered and save lives while upholding climate legislation.”
“I thank Andy for the answer. Does he agree that a weekly list of events would highlight opportunities for Members and, indeed, visitors to the Building, thus ensuring that it is more user-friendly and accessible than at present?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. Minister, there are six separate housing developments in that complex, encompassing well over 600 to 800 houses. That is a lot of residents. They were locked in their homes for the third time in the past couple of years and could not get out due to a bomb scare on the main shared access route. What will you do to ensure that the planning permission will be enforced so that people are safe and can get to and from their homes when such events happen?”
“Minister, regrettably, you have shown no regret over what you have said and done over the past few days. You have failed the test as a Minister and as a community leader. People expected better and more from you. It is disappointing. Given your poor judgement over what was written on Facebook, did you give any serious consideration to your position?”
“Those scenes were despicable, and I hope that, when she recovers and is feeling much better, the Justice Minister considers establishing special courts over the summer, because we need to send a hard and clear lesson to those who think that they can get away with that behaviour that they will not be getting away with it. They must face the full consequences of the law, and elected Members across this House must support the PSNI in doing that job and call for clear and measured leadership in every part of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />My thoughts are with everybody who has suffered over the past week and with every parent who had to explain to their children what this was.”
“Many people's lives were put in danger; many people who call this place their home remain afraid and scared. This is not the Northern Ireland that so many of us worked so hard to build. This is a shared home place for everyone. <BR /> <BR />Over the lifetime of this place, we have been able to travel the world, and doors have been opened to people from right across our island, no matter where we go. We have no right, and no one in our society has any right, to tell people that they are not welcome, burn them out of their homes, attack their property, or terrify children, mothers and daughters or vulnerable people in our community. It is unacceptable to attack our police officers, who are young men and women out doing a job to protect our society.”
“The scenes that we have seen unfold on our streets over the past week are absolutely despicable and disgusting and not reflective of our wider society or how far we have come. There is no place, ever, for racism, hate or violence on our streets. It is entirely unacceptable and unjustifiable for anybody to treat any other member of the community in the way that people have been treated in the past week. <BR /> <BR />The scenes that were shared all over social media and on the news across the world reflect a very depressing picture of this place. There is a requirement on us all, as leaders in our own community, to ensure that we show leadership, that our language is measured and that we consider carefully what we say and the actions that we take before doing anything. Unfortunately, some failed that test last week.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. To many across Northern Ireland, it is a welcome announcement. It will come as a great comfort to those who were worried and stressed about the removal of the winter fuel payment. Minister, you said previously that every pensioner in Northern Ireland should get the payment. Are you still of that view? Do you believe that millionaires should benefit from such a payment or just those most in need?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer and for the £3 million investment in the City of Derry Airport. The SDLP has long been calling for that investment, and I am glad that it has now happened, to the benefit of her constituents and mine. <BR /> <BR />Minister, you have outlined the actions by the Irish Government, and they are welcome. What plans do you have in place to ensure that the airport remains sustainable? Will it receive any further investment from your Department for expansion?”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for the statement. Minister, can you outline whether the budget for the North/South Language Body was increased in the current round? What is the breakdown of the contributions from the two Governments?”
“Strabane Athletic now faces a new challenge in the Premier Intermediate League. No doubt it will be tough, but the club carries with it the pride and backing of an entire town and wider area. For now, though, it can and should bask in the glow of this historic season and great success. On behalf of myself, the SDLP and the people of west Tyrone, I offer Strabane Athletic my heartfelt congratulations and every success for what lies ahead.”
“It is important that I mention the great Rene McElroy, who has not missed a game in many years, and Pat Henderson, who looks after all the teams. It is also important to mention Seamus McElroy, the club chairman, who lives and breathes the club's success on a daily basis.”
“They speak to a broader story of a town with a rich footballing tradition. Strabane has long produced talented and skilled footballers and great teams. Football and sport in general are woven into the identity of the Strabane town centre area. Strabane Athletic is carrying on that tradition with great pride. The club is inspiring new generations of young people, showing them what is possible with dedication and teamwork. The club's successes are not just on the pitch but in the role that they play as community builders, role models and leaders. <BR /> <BR />A special word must go to the volunteers who make the club what it is. To the gatekeepers, stewards, catering teams and ground staff I say that your efforts often go unnoticed but are invaluable.”
“Last week marked the end of a remarkable and very successful season for Strabane Athletic Football Club. The club has done the Strabane community extremely proud in a year that will live long in the memory of players, supporters and the community. The club has won three major honours, which is an extraordinary achievement by any standard. It is this season's league champions, O'Gorman Cup winners, Crawford Cup winners, and it has secured its long-sought elevation to the Premier Intermediate League. That is no small feat, and it represents the culmination of years of hard work, commitment and belief. After narrowly missing out last year, manager, Raymond Foy, and his squad returned stronger, hungrier and more determined than ever. <BR /> <BR />The club's achievements go beyond silverware.”
“Minister, you are a bit late to the race in that regard. It has been leaked, and, unfortunately, many have got sight of it and are disappointed. Therefore, Minister, what measurable targets are in the anti-poverty strategy, and what budget have he and the Minister of Finance agreed to deliver on those targets, which will change lives?”
“I say to the Executive parties that were tripping over each other to get the First Minister's post that this is about real people, real lives and using the power that you so badly wanted. This is about using the office that you hold and the privileged position that you have to bring about change and not simply stand in front of the camera, smiling and holding a glossy report but not implementing any of the powerful recommendations in it.”
“It is also about ensuring that small businesses in West Tyrone, Derry, Armagh, South Belfast and every corner of the North are not left to struggle alone while the Government hesitate. It is unacceptable that, every time a problem arises here where we could sit down, work out a solution, respond to the report and put in place measures to bring about real change that could help businesses today, we simply forward the report, do not produce a plan and hope that everything will work out. <BR /> <BR />The situation is getting worse. If our small businesses struggle, people lose jobs and they lose their livelihoods, and what is a serious problem today will become an even bigger problem tomorrow.”
“While we debate, real businesses are having to make real decisions to reduce their hours, let staff go or shut their doors altogether. Let me say this clearly: we cannot continue to blame Westminster for every pressure, if we are not even prepared to use the powers that we already hold. That excuse has worn thin. People want solutions, not excuses. We have a duty to act, and if the Finance Minister is serious about protecting employers, workers and communities, I urge him and his Executive colleagues to back the proposals in the motion and implement them without any further delay. <BR /> <BR />To be clear, this is a huge point of frustration for many people.”
“Stormont needs to stop assuming what businesses need and, instead, ask them directly, which, again, according to the recent survey by Retail NI, has not been happening. <BR /> <BR />Thirdly and most urgently in the long term, we need to get serious about rates reform. That has been promised time and again. It is entirely within our devolved powers. It is unacceptable that we keep citing Westminster delays and blaming the Brits while ignoring one of the few economic levers that we can control. Businesses do not care which Department it sits with. They do not care if it is taken from here or anywhere else; they just want it to happen. We have a responsibility to ensure that it does. <BR /> <BR />No one is suggesting that every problem can be fixed, but the Executive can and must do more than simply pass the buck.”
“The motion sets out three practical, achievable actions that the Minister and the Executive could take quickly. First, we need to recall the high street task force, which has been referenced by many Members. We already have the structures in place to bring together Departments, councils, business leaders and communities. The task force could provide coordination, drive recovery efforts and give much-needed focus to regeneration. It has been dormant for too long — dormant almost as long as the Executive have been since they returned when it comes to the interests of serving our businesses. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, we need a cost of doing business advisory forum in place by 1 September. It would not be just a talking shop; it would give businesses a formal voice and shape local responses.”
“We need to see a clear plan of action from Sinn Féin, and we need to see its vision for this place.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is so important that we listen to our business community and do not simply pass on a report and expect someone to come in like a great white knight to save the day. The Minister of Finance has a responsibility to businesses. The Minister for the Economy has a responsibility to businesses. Pushing a report and saying "business as usual" will not wash. <BR /> <BR />We also heard reference to the current rate support schemes through Land and Property Services. Yes, those provide a baseline of assistance of around £250 million a year, but they are long-standing schemes. They are not tailored responses to the specific escalating pressures detailed in the Department's commissioned report. Again, I ask this: what's new? What has changed in response to the findings? John O'Dowd jumping on a plane to Westminster will solve nothing.”
“You wanted power, and you have power, so you cannot stand on the same spot and point your finger at Westminster, particularly given that you spent the past 20 years telling the people of the North that what happens in Westminster does not matter here and that you do not need to take your seats to press for change. Today, all I have heard from Sinn Féin Members is, "We need to make the case to Westminster. We need to go over and get the business community to make their case to Westminster". Why are you not in Westminster with your MPs, who have a healthy mandate, making that case daily, as the SDLP does, as the DUP does and as the Alliance Party does, collectively, putting the interests of this place first rather than ducking and diving?”
“Forwarding a report and telling others to make the case is not the same as taking decisive local action. It is delegation, not leadership. <BR /> <BR />In the Assembly today, we again heard from Members from the Minister's party, Sinn Féin, who are quick to blame the Government at Westminster for the many faults that exist here. For the first time, however, the Minister's party has its hands on the most significant economic levers through its Departments. It has the First Minister, the Finance Ministry, the Economy Ministry and the Infrastructure Ministry, so excuses will not wash any longer.”