Nichola Mallon
North Belfast · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“I have had the very moving opportunity to meet families who have tragically lost a loved one on that stretch of road. That was an important opportunity for me to hear at first hand their experience and the experiences of the local community as they try to go about their everyday business while living in close proximity to a key transport…”
“I take safety on our rural roads very seriously. My Department continues to be actively committed to improving safety on our roads and to work closely with our road safety partners to deliver a programme of road safety education, engineering and enforcement activities.”
“I thank Mr Muir and all the members of the Infrastructure Committee for very constructive working relationships. At times, those working relationships were tense, but they were always very constructive — I mean that.”
“It was important to me to take forward the motor insurance legislation to try to protect people against a hike of up to £50 in their motor insurance premiums. Members will be aware that I took the decision to freeze any hike in public transport fares.”
“That commenced a consultation process that is open until 6 May. I encourage anyone with an interest in this significant project to make their views known during the consultation period. <BR /> <BR />In advance of the major upgrade, it is important that we do what we can to improve road safety.”
“I have announced my intention to extend the concessionary fares scheme to provide free travel for people with disabilities who currently pay half fare and to new operators who have already indicated or expressed an interest in joining. I am aware that many people with a disability have limited travel options.”
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“The fact that health-related trips currently account for one quarter of all community transport journeys is a perfect illustration of those wider impacts. At a time of constrained budgets, delivering my ambitions for community transport will require innovation, greater collaboration and cross-departmental working. I hope that Executive colleagues and all parties will support my efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable across our communities and rural areas can continue to benefit from that essential service.”
“However, severe constraints on my Department's budgets over recent years have resulted in reduced funding across a range of areas, including community transport and the public transport network with Translink. That has created significant challenges and is not sustainable if we, collectively, are to deliver on our Programme for Government ambitions to connect all our people and communities to the opportunities which many of us can take for granted. <BR /> <BR />I am committed to finding solutions to protect and maintain rural and community transport services. However, we all need to recognise that the benefits of community transport go well beyond my Department, impacting across the full range of Programme for Government outcomes.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Investment in infrastructure is not an end in itself; it is a bedrock on which we deliver our Programme for Government outcomes. That is why, over the next two years, my focus will be on developing a sustainable water, drainage and transport infrastructure that improves people's lives, unlocks economic potential and plays our part in tackling the climate emergency — the single greatest global challenge we all face. <BR /> <BR />I clearly recognise the important contribution that community transport makes towards delivering that ambition and connecting some of our most vulnerable people and rural communities.”
“I thank the Member for his question. If he has details of any structures that are on DFI land, I will be happy to look at them. Yes, we should have a zero tolerance approach, but we should do so universally. We should not accept signs or structures in some places while not accepting them in others. I look forward to working with the Member and with others as we take that universal zero tolerance approach.”
“I absolutely agree with the Member. I have asked for a detailed submission on the guidelines. As I have said consistently in answering the questions, we need to deal with this robustly, but we need to do it in a way that tackles the underlying issues as well. It is not just a simple issue of erecting an illegal flag or a banner on a lamp post or a bit of street furniture. We need to get to grips with the underlying issues. We all need to show leadership, and that means that we should be as vociferously opposed to illegal paramilitary flags representing loyalist paramilitaries going up as we should be for issues to do with dissident republicans. We need to approach this in a very equal way. I want to work with everyone in the House, and I want to play my part in tackling the issue.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I firmly believe that everyone should live free from intimidation. I do not see this as an issue of one side or the other. I accept that my Department has a role to play. It is clear that, under article 87 of the Roads Order, it is an offence to fix certain attachments to the surface of a road, tree, structure or other works in or on a road. It is that legislation that my Department seeks to rely on. I want to work with the PSNI; I want to work with communities; I want to work with every single Member in the House, because that is the only way that we are going to genuinely tackle this issue in a sustainable and lasting way.”
“Yes, I agree that flags can be used to mark out territory. As I said in my response, it is a problem that persists and that we need to comprehensively try to deal with. <BR /> <BR />I believe that the answer to taking the issue forward lies in the commission and that we really need to find a political consensus and show leadership at all levels to try to achieve that. I am committed to doing that in my Department, but I am realistic. I understand the nature of the problem, so I also understand that, if we are to genuinely deal with it, we must all work together.”
“It is long past time that we got to grips with this issue and the issues that lie beneath it. I assure the Member that I am committed to working with Executive colleagues and everyone required so that we can deal with the issue in a comprehensive and lasting way.”
“While recognising my Department's responsibility, the reality is that if we as a society are to find a sustainable and lasting solution to the problem of illegal flags and emblems, we must all step up, as Ministers, as a united Executive, as leaders and members of all parties in the Assembly, with councils, landowners and agencies, including the Housing Executive and PSNI, and, importantly, with and in support of communities. <BR /> <BR />I understand this is an area being explored — with a view to finding consensus — by the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition, set up as part of the Fresh Start Agreement, with a report due to the First Minister and deputy First Minister. I also note the commitments to accommodating and respecting identities and cultures in the New Decade, New Approach agreement.”
“I thank the Member for the question. I am aware of the problem of the erection of illegal flags and emblems on street furniture. It is a persistent problem and one that needs to be dealt with in a comprehensive manner. The flying of flags and the attachment of emblems to departmental street lighting columns is an offence under the Roads Order 1993, and my Department has the power to remove them from its property. One of my Department’s primary considerations is the safety of the public, and where unauthorised flags or attachments pose a hazard to road users, my Department will always seek to remove that danger.”
“I will sorely miss you, Séamus. We will greatly miss you, Séamus, and the country mourns your loss. Séamus, ár mbuíochas leat, a chara dhil.”
“I know which I choose, I know which Séamus Mallon chose, and I am for ever grateful that I got to stand on the shoulder of an Irish political giant. <BR /> <BR />I am personally filled with immense sadness that we will have no more visits in Markethill. I will miss his straight-talking, honest advice, but Séamus and all he stood for will continue to guide me and the SDLP family. At the requiem mass and celebration of his life today, we were fittingly reminded in the missalette of 'From The Canton of Expectation' by Seamus Heaney:”
“As he laid out in his maiden speech in the House of Commons 34 years ago:”
“No messing, no spin, no winking, no nodding: just tell it like it is — the Séamus Mallon way. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly owes a debt of gratitude to Séamus Mallon. I am pleased that he got to see the devolved institutions he helped to create restored, and I am pleased, on behalf of the SDLP, that we have this opportunity to comment on his life, his passing and his enormous contribution to politics here. <BR /> <BR />Séamus was a man of peace. He was a man of non-violence. He was a man of justice, fairness, truth and courage. You can be sure that the next generation of SDLP politicians will live by the Séamus Mallon mantra; that is in our DNA. However, all of us here, across all Benches, would do well to remember and live by Séamus's judgement of how we share this piece of land.”
“Séamus and David were a pair with their own dynamic, and in spite of consistent external pressures, they did their best to deliver on the promise of the Good Friday Agreement when it was far from easy to do so. <BR /> <BR />He was here. It felt to us younger SDLP members and activists that he was always here and ever-present, like there was no beginning and no end to Séamus Mallon: that he just was. <BR /> <BR />At party conference time, he was always there, the very last to go to bed as he inspired a younger generation in song, poetry and recounting old stories. However, all of that came after the serious political discourse, and that, of course, is where Séamus excelled. When he said something, he meant it — no question — and, in politics, that is a wonderful legacy.”
“He laid over 200 amendments, which were part of a personal and party crusade to deliver a policing and justice system to which we could all belong and support. Perhaps more than anything else, the policing and justice structures that exist today are Séamus Mallon's lasting and enduring legacy to life in this part of the world. <BR /> <BR />He was here. Séamus believed in this Assembly, in an Executive and in delivering good government for all our people. So when he became deputy First Minister in 1998, that was a role he embraced, even at times when he was not entirely comfortable. Along with David Trimble, he sent out a message that there was a new way to do politics here.”
“It is no exaggeration to say that, without him and his influence, we would not be here today and would not be able to extol his virtues in this very Chamber. <BR /> <BR />Séamus was there at Sunningdale in 1973. He was there at the Seanad in 1982. His support for the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 was, correctly, regarded as crucial. If Séamus had not deemed the landmark accord as a vehicle for extolling and advancing the position of nationalists in the North, you can be sure he would have publicly said just that, but he kept a long-term goal in mind and became a vocal supporter of the agreement. <BR /> <BR />He was in the House of Commons from 1986 to 2005, where he left a mark with his passionate oratory and in his diligent, persistent work on policing reform.”
“The recent history of Ireland, and particularly Northern Ireland, over the last 50 years is characterised by discrimination, division, conflict, violence and awful, senseless killings and bombings that only ever served to drive us all further apart. It is also characterised by dialogue, engagement, acknowledgement of difference and of legitimate coexisting identities, agreement and, ultimately, a political accommodation that has, difficulties and all, led us to where we all are today, which is representing all communities that live cheek by jowl in this region by being here in the House, where we all have a duty to serve those people. <BR /> <BR />Séamus Mallon was integral to all of what went on in this shared home place right up to the formation of this power-sharing Assembly.”
“We have already seen collective leadership from politicians of all parties in one approach with the business community in Westminster. That approach must continue.”
“Yes, I very much agree with that point, and the SDLP maintains that the best protections and solutions to the challenges we now face are in the Good Friday Agreement and its three strands of relationships across these islands. <BR /> <BR />In closing, I urge Members across the Chamber to support the motion to withhold legislative consent. Whatever our views on membership of the European Union, our job now is to unite in common purpose to best protect people.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member for his comments. As I go on, I will point out how the Good Friday Agreement is the answer to a lot of the challenges that we will see and presents the key to unlocking the opportunities. <BR /> <BR />For our communities, the European Union has provided support and stability. It has maximised rights and protected freedoms to move across these islands. It has supported the Good Friday Agreement, ensuring that no —”
“As our former leader and civil rights champion John Hume put it:”
“Moving even beyond the falsehoods of the Vote Leave campaign, following his election to office, the Prime Minister ripped apart our insurance policy — the backstop — yet, today, his Government seek our consent for this EU withdrawal agreement, which will leave the North clinging to a broken Brexit Britain, left to suffer its inevitable and punishing fate of economic self-harm without adequate protections. That is why SDLP MPs, with Alliance and DUP MPs, proposed a series of amendments in Westminster to protect all our interests. The Conservative Party may have a majority in the House of Commons, but that does not remove power and responsibility from this place. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP continues to believe that the best solution is for Northern Ireland to remain a full member of the European Union.”
“It is not Boris Johnson and his Cabinet colleagues who will suffer as a result of that dangerous cliff edge; it will be communities, farmers and businesses right across Northern Ireland. Today, again, the SDLP calls on the British Government to immediately rule out any future threat of a no-deal Brexit. <BR /> <BR />People at home are rightly concerned. They know, given the catalogue of experiences to date, that the words of the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, cannot be trusted.”
“As the British Government have recklessly ruled out an extension to the transition period, there is still the threat of the possibility of a catastrophic no-deal Brexit.”
“Today, we can and must give back a voice to the people of Northern Ireland. Today, we must send a united message to Boris Johnson and the UK Government, to Dublin and Brussels that, collectively, we reject the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. Today, we can choose not to be divided by our views on EU membership. Instead, we can choose to unite, respect those differences and together vote to reject the withdrawal Bill, because it does not protect the interests of all the people whom we represent. <BR /> <BR />Without question, the legislation offers nothing but economic self-harm and damage to the hard-won progress that we have made over 20 years. It opens old wounds and threatens business, investment and jobs. Critically, the legislation, as drafted, provides no certainty or security for our future.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is no escaping the facts: 56% of people in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the European Union, and that vote has been reinforced with further support for Remainers in subsequent European and Westminster elections. People understand and recognise that Brexit is the most significant economic, constitutional and social challenge that we face across these islands. Democratically, they have made their will clear again. People across the North are not prepared to suffer economic ruin, they are not prepared to accept the wholesale sell-off of our health service in a barter between Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, nor are they prepared to accept declining food and environmental standards. <BR /> <BR />Today is our opportunity to reinforce the message of the electorate whom we represent.”
“Brexit is the biggest challenge of our time and will affect generations to come across these islands. The politics of Brexit has dominated and consumed the past three years since the referendum on EU membership in 2016; time that should have been spent dealing with poverty, inequality, the crises in our health service and schools, and the climate emergency. I recognise that there are different views in the Chamber, from those who are passionately Remain to those who support Leave, but I wholeheartedly welcome the fact that, after three years, we are in the Chamber and are respectfully debating our differences rather than outside, engaged in megaphone diplomacy over the air waves.”
“We are also sympathetic to the arguments put forward by Mr Allister, but we have not had an Assembly in three years. In that time, the Scottish Parliament has had its say. The Welsh Assembly has had its say and will again have its say tomorrow. As other Members have indicated, today is our last opportunity to have our say, in advance of tomorrow's sitting of the House of Lords, which presents the last opportunity to amend the Bill. Although we are sympathetic, these are extraordinary times, and, as a result of having had no Assembly, we are restricted, so today we need to unite and speak with one voice.”
“It is not the appointment of Mr Stalford that we disagree with but the title that is to be conferred on him.”
“A few days ago, a number of parties signed up to the 'New Decade, New Approach' agreement, in the sense that it was the basis on which we were entering the Executive in good faith. It is, we believe, adopting a new way of doing politics, which is one based on inclusivity and genuine power-sharing. <BR /> <BR />There is no purpose or point to this business other than to confer, as I said earlier, an elevated title on one of three Deputy Speakers, all of whom hold equal roles. It represents, sadly, a continuation of a past decade and a past approach, and we cannot support it. <BR /> <BR />I want to make the point, however, that this is in no way a reflection on or related to Mr Christopher Stalford, whom our party fully supports and has faith in.”
“If I could just very quickly make the point. We are just making the point that we do not support it and that —”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Just a few days ago, a number of parties signed up to the 'New Decade, New Approach' agreement and entered the Executive in good faith. That is signalling a new approach through being inclusive and power-sharing. There is no purpose or point to this item other than to confer an elevated title on one of three Deputy Speakers.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I confirm that I am willing to take up the office of Minister for Infrastructure, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998. I sincerely thank my party for the nomination.”
“I stand on behalf of the SDLP to commend Claire Sugden and to warmly congratulate Naomi Long. Throughout the talks process, we and our parties, alongside the Ulster Unionists, have worked hard and worked well together, and I look forward to continuing that cooperation, as with all parties, in the interests of everyone living in Northern Ireland. I must make the point, as we have on previous occasions, that the Justice Ministry should be run under d'Hondt and this must be the last time it is not.”
“We will always be reviewing and monitoring our position and how we operate — the people of Northern Ireland deserve that — and we will always be honest throughout this mandate with the people of Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />We will go into the Executive and will be in the Chamber because we genuinely want to see power-sharing. We genuinely and sincerely want to work with all parties so that we can improve the lives of everybody living in Northern Ireland. We have entered in good faith, and we take it at face value that everyone else is acting in the same spirit. We will play our part, and I look forward, as a party, to working with the First Minister and the deputy First Minister, with Ministers in the Executive and with all our MLAs across all political parties.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are also commitments on policies that we have all committed to. We are all committed to tackling the crises in our heath and education systems and delivering pay justice. We pushed hard with other parties to secure welfare mitigations so that we can protect our low-income families and our disabled citizens. We pushed as well for an anti-poverty strategy — a meaningful anti-poverty strategy — and a commitment to build new and more social and affordable homes. We have also committed to tackling regional imbalance in terms of investment in our economy, and we have committed to the expansion of Magee. We have committed to climate action, among many, many things. They are big commitments, and we have been pushing both Governments because we need to see clear financial support, but all of us must honour those commitments.”
“In addition to paying tribute to the outgoing Speaker, we wish you the best in your new post. As I have said previously, we have waited three years, and people will rightly wonder why it has taken so long. Our view is that the deal could have been much better and contains missed opportunities, but, for us, there are two key tests. The first is how our Executive and Assembly operate, and the second is what it actually does to transform our citizens' lives. We have all committed to a greater openness and transparency in the Executive; we have all committed to seeing the end of the abuse of power and the reign of SpAds; and we have all committed to opening up this place and our Government to better involve our citizens. That is why we pushed hard for the citizens' assembly.”
“Yes, Mr Speaker. I nominate Mr Patsy McGlone for the office of Deputy Speaker.”
“Three years we have waited to gather in the Chamber. People will rightly wonder why it has taken us so long. The fundamental test of whether all this will work is if there is a genuine change in the mindset, attitude and behaviour of all of us, all political parties. The election of Patsy McGlone would very much send the message that this is a new way of operating and working with one another. Patsy McGlone, whom it is my privilege to nominate, is a man of great integrity and fairness. I do not need to list his qualities — qualities that make him perfect for the role — because Members all know them. This, however, will be a very difficult time in the Assembly. The position of Speaker is a very important one, so I urge Members to consider carefully the role and to vote to elect my party colleague Patsy McGlone.”
“I nominate Mr Patsy McGlone for the office of Speaker.”
“Can any assurance can be given that, if those three children — Caoilte Fitzsimmons, Mia Warren and Noah Collins — meet the suitability tests, they will face the very real prospect of getting access to what is a life-saving and life-changing drug, given that the Health Department does not have to pay for it but simply provide the theatre space and medical staff to administer it?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. The Minister will know that I have raised this issue. I wrote to her twice before Christmas asking her to meet a family to discuss specifically access to the drugs. We have only four children in Northern Ireland who have this rare condition, one of whom is getting access to the drugs trial and three of whom are yet to get any decision on access to it.”
“Given that the now former First Minister, given the current political context, Arlene Foster, has previously outlined the need for the free movement of labour, how is this compatible with the position articulated by the Prime Minister, Theresa May?”
“Given that Fresh Start was launched with much fanfare on 17 November 2015 and the mitigation package in respect of the protections against the bedroom tax was heralded as one of the critical successful elements of that, why then has the bringing forward of the regulations to protect people been left so late? In fact, it was left to just a few weeks before the introduction of the bedroom tax itself.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers. I recognise the fact that this will be his final appearance in Question Time in this mandate and put on record my thanks for his help in some constituency matters in respect of housing.”
“I agree with the Member. It is regrettable that it seems that money can be found quite easily by this Executive for other things and maybe not so easily when it comes to issues that impact on homes and are detrimental to children's health. <BR /> <BR />We have a housing crisis and we need to stop tinkering around the edges. We need to actually deal with the problems, we need to be creative and we need to be courageous. We do not need to be stuck in political paralysis. A price is being paid by our constituents who are living in homes that just are not fit for purpose.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am very frustrated that, on the final day of the Assembly, we are debating an issue that impacts on so many homes across Northern Ireland. I am really frustrated that we have a housing crisis. I am really frustrated that we are not able to move forward on reform of the common selection scheme.”
“They pay that cost through their health and when they try to clean and redecorate, and they pay it through fuel and through the warmth that is lost from their homes. The cost to these families is unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />It brings me on to my second point on the issue of fuel poverty, and a number of Members have touched on this. We have the highest rates of fuel poverty on these islands and we urgently need a more effective and coordinated fuel poverty strategy that properly deals with the issue; it should be a critical strand of it. It will not only try to address our fuel poverty crisis but will create employment opportunities and opportunities in the construction sector that could benefit our economy across the North.”