Colin McGrath
South Down · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, regardless of where people stand on the exact figure, surely we can all agree that a health service cannot function without the doctors whom it trains.”
“Minister, climate change is happening, and extreme weather events are taking place. We saw that in Downpatrick a number of years ago when the town centre was ravaged by flooding, and it has taken the businesses affected many years to try to get over that flooding.”
“Minister, given that capital funding is, generally, being decimated, the extent of which may increase as a result of the Executive's not agreeing a Budget, what impact will that have on any final road maintenance strategy, and are any contingencies being put in place to manage that?”
“<BR /> <BR />Since March 2025, the parliamentary excellence programme has delivered dedicated sessions with the Executive Office on the strategic framework and its delivery plan, enhancing Members’ understanding of the cross-government approach and their role in scrutiny, legislation and constituency engagement.”
“<BR /> <BR />More broadly, the Assembly Commission supports Members and Committees in carrying out their scrutiny functions, including in relation to the Executive Office’s work on that framework.”
“As the Member mentioned, one example is the Assembly's Women's Caucus, which has a particular focus on supporting women in public life and highlighting the increasing challenges that women face in the digital sphere, including online abuse.”
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“They contribute to our society and work hard, but we seem to lump everybody in with the small percentage who are considered to be illegal immigrants. We need to find other ways — legal ways — of addressing that. We need —”
“When we get elements of that wrong, we see what happens: the space opens, and in they go. It is filled up by people who bring that destruction into our communities. We see people go in and attack others, quite often simply for the colour of their skin. People who are working, contributing, paying taxes and giving back to our community are getting attacked because others think that they arrived on a boat. People think that those boats made it all the way across seas, up Belfast lough, down the M1 and on to the top of a bonfire, and that that is what delivered people into our community. We need to stand up and say, "That is wrong. That is the wrong message". The message is that 99·9% of the people who are here are here on legal and proper grounds.”
“As a group of leaders in our community, we need to agree on that and spread it round our community. <BR /> <BR />What has been very frustrating over the summer and the past number of months is that, when there have been certain events, they have almost become weaponised and politicised, with different views on whether it should or should not have not happened, whether it was or was not right and what was or was not there beforehand. That has allowed a space where people feel that their behaviours are justified. They think that it is OK to carry out their actions in the community, because they think that even people like ourselves cannot agree on what is racist, what is sectarian, what is allowed, who is in control in our communities and who we permit to be in control in our communities.”
“It is a little bit frustrating that it is the 5% that we focus on, and, in some respects, it is that 5% that then gets amplified to the community, which then thinks that there is division on these things. There are quite a number of first principles that we all agree on, and that is what we should try to amplify. <BR /> <BR />I think about those who have fallen victim to abuse. It is important that we send out a message to them that we do not like that and that we want to stop it. We want to try to stop that type of behaviour in our community. We do not want to see people carrying out racist or sectarian abuse. However, we also know that, in order to stop a lot of that abuse, we need to see leadership. All of us need to stand up and say that what we can see in our community is wrong and that there needs to be no more of it.”
“As the debate has progressed, we have started to go down rabbit holes and little culs-de-sac, rather than focusing on what should be front and centre in the overall debate, which is the suggestion that racism and sectarianism are a stain on our society, albeit elements of the motion are about what should happen within the criminal justice system once somebody has carried out such actions. We should collectively say that, if we have a person at that stage, we have failed. If people continue to go out and carry out such actions, it means that all our policies and the various strategies have not done their job. <BR /> <BR />We have lost sight of the fact that, when it comes to defining these things amongst ourselves, we all probably agree on about 95% of it. It is just that 5% at the end where we have our differences.”
“Many more people are getting a health service that relies on that key IT facility to help them to deliver it. When it collapses, it creates the difficulties and problems. There were suggestions that there were difficulties in another trust area, with people not being able to log on the week before. Is it not the case that the Executive are just not investing in the critical infrastructure required to deliver the services that we need and that we need to see more money being directed towards IT services so that everything can be delivered properly?”
“It is good that the money will be pushed out across the North so that all areas can benefit. I asked your predecessor whether there were checks and balances in place in each council area to make sure that money is spread around across the council area. In my area, I want to see Downpatrick get its share rather than it simply going to Newry.”
“Does the Minister agree that the proscription of Palestine Action, with 89 arrests in London recently as well as arrests in Northern Ireland, all for democratic and peaceful protest, is an affront and should be reviewed and reversed?”
“A plan that has no money behind it to deliver it is fundamentally not worth the paper that it is written on. It is unable to help those who need help. You are the DUP Education Minister, and we have had some plans before from your colleagues. We have a Sinn Féin Finance Minister who has obviously, in a conversation, told you that the money is not available, otherwise you would not be here trying to get support from the whole House. We have had allied health professionals removed by the Health Minister. Does that not prove that, when it comes to the entire sector, the whole Executive are letting down people and families?”
“They guarantee parents and pupils a voice and ensure that uniforms are practical for learning. They shine a light on exclusive supplier contracts and provide clarity on when action will start. That is what was consistently heard at the Committee. It is what the parents have asked for, and that is why the SDLP is pleased to support group 2 and urges other Members to do so as well.”
“Time and again, the Committee heard about the stress caused by costs. Families told us about spending £100 on a blazer, £40 on a jumper and £15 on a tie, often when cheaper, perfectly adequate alternatives were available elsewhere. Parents told the Education Committee that they felt trapped by school supply arrangements that drive up prices. That is what the amendments address. Yes, many community groups are stepping in with pre-loved uniform schemes, and the Committee heard about some inspiring projects during its Committee Stage, but those schemes exist because families have been left with no alternative. Community goodwill should not have to fill the gaps that are left by substandard legislation. <BR /> <BR />The amendments would significantly strengthen the Bill. They make sure that the Department has a duty, not a choice, to act.”
“Amendment No 7 requires schools to publish their contracts annually. The Committee heard repeatedly that transparency is the best safeguard against unfair costs, and the amendments make that transparency a legal requirement. <BR /> <BR />Finally, amendment No 13, while less high-profile than the others, still matters, because clarity about when provisions come into effect is essential. Parents need to know when that change will arrive. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has suggested that some of the amendments are unnecessary or overly prescriptive, but that is not what was heard at the Committee. Voiced consistently was that families want certainty. They want clarity and affordability built into the system. They do not want to be told that something might be covered in some future guidelines.”
“Teachers' unions and parents all said that uniforms must support play-based learning and outdoor activity. A uniform that looks smart but prevents a child climbing, running or joining in with messy play is not, therefore, fit for purpose. That amendment reflects what was consistently heard, which was that clothing must support learning, not restrict it. <BR /> <BR />Amendment Nos 6 and 7 tackle exclusive supply contracts. Time and again, parents expressed frustration at the fact that they are tied to a single supplier and forced to pay inflated prices for basic items. Stakeholder groups echoed that, pointing out that such contracts eliminate competition and ultimately remove choice. Amendment No 6 requires at least one open retail option unless the school can show that its contract truly delivers value for money.”
“Parents told the Committee that they are tired of warm words and promises that change might happen. They want certainty and a guarantee that guidelines will be issued and will not be left to departmental discretion and that there will be a duty to compel action. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 3 requires that pupils and parents be explicitly consulted. Again, that was something that, I understand, the Committee consistently heard. Families feel that decisions are being made about them and without them. The Minister has said that he intended to consult anyway, but parents should not have to rely on good intentions. Writing that into the Bill ensures that their voices are guaranteed a place in that process. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 5 addresses the practicality of uniforms, especially for children in Foundation Stage.”
“Every child, regardless of their background, should arrive at school with the same chance to learn, thrive and succeed. However, that principle is undermined when the cost of a school uniform becomes a barrier to attendance or when a child is made to feel lesser because their family cannot afford a specific item of clothing. Throughout the Committee scrutiny, I understand, the Committee heard the same themes from parents, pupils and stakeholders, which were that the costs are spiralling, families feel locked into exclusive supply arrangements and uniforms often prioritise appearance over practicality. The amendments are a direct response to that evidence. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 2 represents a seemingly small change but would make a big difference.”
“I am pleased to follow on from my colleague's earlier remarks. In the interests of this relating to school, I have had some extra homework to do by having to carry off these remarks on the Bill today, as my colleague who sits on the Education Committee is lounging on a beach on her honeymoon. I am sure that, if there is an excuse for being away from this place, that is certainly an acceptable one. <BR /> <BR />I will comment quickly on the second group of amendments. The first group focused on accountability and enforcement, and this group goes to the heart of what the guidelines should contain and how parents and pupils will experience them. To begin, I will set out the principles that have guided the SDLP's approach to the Bill. We in the SDLP believe that education should be a great equaliser; it should not be a source of inequality.”
“I am told that the Finance Minister has washed his hands of the issue by telling health unions simply to contact the Health Minister, while the Executive Office will not even reply to correspondence from the health trade unions or me requesting a meeting. Does that not show that, whilst the Finance Minister, the First Minister and the deputy First Minister are more than willing to stand beside nurses on pickets, they are unwilling to stand up for them where it counts, namely in the Executive, and pay them what they are owed?”
“When the anaesthetist is removed, emergency surgery cannot be performed. When emergency surgery is removed, the emergency department is suddenly not viable. When the emergency department is removed, many other aspects of the hospital are suddenly not viable. That is why the issue is critical to the people in the Public Gallery and to the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, because, if it does not have all aspects of a fully fledged hospital, what happens is that it gets chipped away, and then we will be back here time and time again to make the arguments for other elements of the service. <BR /> <BR />I know that we are pressed for time. I have made the points that I wanted to make, and I know that we all want to hear from the Minister, so I will leave it there.”
“Although the same distance is not involved, what has happened with Downe Hospital is similar. A rural community up into the Mournes and down into Kilkeel is left to make massive journeys that nobody living in the city, with two or three hospitals on their doorstep, could ever comprehend making. What we are asking for is a bit of equality. It is about spreading the services in a way that recognises that people do live in rural communities and should be able to access some of the services that they require. <BR /> <BR />As a result of the debate, I hope that the Western Trust will recognise that it is not acceptable for people to make emergency journeys of that length. I hope that the issue can be revisited and checked out. <BR /> <BR />Downe Hospital in my area is a great example of another important aspect to be considered.”
“That is not a short journey to make. The journey from places such as Belleek and Newtownbutler all the way up to Altnagelvin takes up to two and a half hours. Sometimes, our rural community gets forgotten about when it comes to health services. For city dwellers, that journey is the equivalent of living in Belfast and having to go to Dublin to get treatment. Nobody in Belfast would accept that. There is no way that, if they were to need emergency treatment, in that moment of their life when it is a matter of life or death, people would be sent all the way down to Dublin. Similarly, there is no way that people in Dublin would be sent all the way up to Belfast. Travelling that distance would not be considered acceptable, yet it is what we are asking people in Fermanagh to do. <BR /> <BR />It is the same in my constituency.”
“I welcome the opportunity to talk on this important issue. I thank Deborah for securing the Adjournment debate and wish her all the best in the days, weeks and years ahead. I am absolutely certain that she will be watching, and she is probably saying, "At the end of the debate, I will be able to click this off, and I will not have to make the two-and-a-half-hour journey back down home to Enniskillen", and that will bring her a bit of joy. <BR /> <BR />What, however, does that say to us about journeys that people have to make? I commend the people from the Save Our Acute Services campaign for making their way up here. We could, however, multiply by 20 the number of people here to get the number of people across Fermanagh who have to travel up to Altnagelvin in Derry every day to access services, visit family or get treatment.”
“He has raised that issue time and time again as an MLA. However, we know that the Executive are not providing him with the funding that is needed to adequately implement all strands of mental health provision. We can look at the wider impacts in society. I look at many events that took place in my constituency over the summer in which mental health was a key cause of some very unfortunate crimes, of people losing their lives and of other events. Having resources in place for mental health is critical. Maybe the Minister will give us a bit of background on whether there are absolutely no resource implications as a result of the LCM or what future resource might be required, were we to change the way that we deliver that type of service.”
“I do not intend to speak on the motion for very long. At its core, the LCM is a piece of housekeeping legislation that ensures that any changes that take place are agreed here and the provisions are there for the future. We do not know whether it will be used. Currently, it will not be used, because we do not have those private providers, but there may be a day when we do have them, if such a decision is taken. It strikes me that, with all the additional pressures that we put on our mental health service, it is about having the right resources in place to address the implementation of any legislation. <BR /> <BR />I am sure that there are many things that we could accuse the Health Minister of or throw at him, but we certainly cannot accuse him of not being at the forefront, leading on mental health.”
“One reason that some people are not at their desks may be that they are sick, which may be a reflection of the fact that there is an ageing profile in our Civil Service. The Audit Office flagged that as being a concern. Is the Department taking any concrete steps to try to recruit young professionals into roles so that the demographic of the Civil Service can shift away from the cliff edge that is presented by the fact that a greater proportion of the workforce is close to retirement?”
“I am possibly seeking this year's award for tenuous link for a supplementary question.”
“Following on from some of the previous questions, I note that a presentation was given about Carlingford lough. Did it contain any details about protecting the lough, given its uniqueness as a shared space and also as a marine conservation area?”
“I commend the work of Patrician Youth Centre in Downpatrick and local schools, Lecale Trinity Grammar School and Blackwater Integrated College, which deliver a joint Youth Service/schools approach, targeting those for whom the traditional curriculum is not attractive. That approach is appealing and, thus, engaging for those young people. Does the Minister agree that such a joint approach, which is structure-light but knowledge-rich, has a place in education and should be funded, even though, at the minute, the Youth Service tends to turn its nose up a wee bit at that type of approach?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far and for giving us this information. This is a process question. There has been £865,000 allocated. Is the review of the implementation of the services that were already in place? The review is due to last for just two days. Can you give us an assurance that those who are in the system at present will continue to receive the services and that the review will only impact on future service delivery?”
“I certainly back what the Minister has just said about helping those in our special needs sector. He referenced earlier some conversations that he had had with the Health Minister. Were there any discussions about autism diagnosis and trying to speed up that process? The impact of delay is seriously restricting the educational outcomes of those people because we cannot get that tailored package for those pupils as quickly as possible.”
“The Bill is an example of the kind of good legislative housekeeping that we need to see more of in this place: thoughtful, practical and based on consultation and consensus.”
“Administrators will now have the same powers as liquidators to pursue directors for wrongful or fraudulent trading, ensuring that we can hold individuals to account and maximise returns for creditors, regardless of the insolvency route that is taken. <BR /> <BR />Importantly, the Bill also addresses several issues that are specific to Northern Ireland. Clauses 103, 104 and 115 fix legal deficiencies that had the potential to hamper enforcement or to allow misconduct to go unchecked, including in cases involving insolvent partnerships. Those are overdue and necessary conditions. <BR /> <BR />While the legislation may not command major headlines, it will make a meaningful difference in practice, saving time and money, protecting creditors and improving the fairness and efficiency of insolvency proceedings.”
“That reduces cost, removes barriers to participation and brings our procedures into the 21st century. For small businesses and individual creditors, that is a particularly welcome change. <BR /> <BR />The Bill also streamlines a range of processes for insolvency practitioners, allowing them to take certain actions, such as recovering assets without needing repeated permission from the courts or the Department. Again, that cuts down on delays and unnecessary bureaucracy while ensuring that there is still proper oversight where it matters. <BR /> <BR />I am also pleased to see that the Bill strengthens company directors' accountability.”
“I support the Bill, which, although modest in scope, is a necessary and welcome step in modernising insolvency legislation in the North. The Bill will make a series of technical amendments that will align our law more closely with reforms that have already been enacted in England and Wales, but it also takes important steps that are specific to our circumstances. Fundamentally, the Bill is about making the insolvency process more efficient, more accessible and more responsive to the needs of those affected, be they creditors, directors, insolvency practitioners or members of the public. <BR /> <BR />One of the most practical reforms in the Bill is the shift away from the default use of physical meetings; instead, the Bill allows creditors and shareholders to communicate through virtual meetings or written correspondence.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I wish to add to Mr Gaston's point of order. I know the points that have been made on the matter, but could an assessment be carried out? Agreement should not be required on a simple and factual piece of information. The cost of a hotel is the cost of a hotel; it is not up for debate or discussion. The First Minister and deputy First Minister's disagreement is over the release of the information — they do not want to release it — not the piece of information itself. Mr Speaker, you made a valid point about the Department of Health, where it can take a long time to gather swathes of information. Reading a number from a bill does not take long. It would be appreciated if you would consider that as part of your deliberations.”
“Our children deserve better. The report shows what must be done, and we now need to see the political will to do it.”
“We also have to remember the workforce. Of the paediatricians surveyed, 88% said that demand outstrips capacity. Many described persistent shortages that predate COVID. Recruitment struggles, underinvestment and burnout are the hallmarks of a system that feels that it is being left behind. The royal college calls for a regional action plan, sustainable investment, real data, better coordination and integrated neurodevelopmental services. Those are not new ideas, however: they are common-sense, long overdue and utterly essential. <BR /> <BR />I say this clearly to the Health Minister and the Executive: why are our children waiting for over two years for basic care? Why is there no regional strategy for community paediatrics despite repeated warnings? How many more reports, reviews and statistics do we need before we see some action?”
“The Belfast Trust alone had 600 children waiting more than two years for community paediatric care at the end of 2024.”
“<BR /> <BR />Delays to accessing support for autism, ADHD, developmental disorders and mental health concerns do not just affect the here and now but shape educational outcomes, life chances and future economic contribution. If we miss the intervention window, we will not only fail children but add more cost and pressure to the adult system down the line. Moreover, there is a postcode lottery for services across trusts. That is unacceptable. The RCPCH's report shows that there are huge inconsistencies in provision, pathways and waiting times.”
“Last week saw the launch in Parliament Buildings of a report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The report is an absolute wake-up call to us all. The facts are stark. Between September 2020 and September 2023, the number of children who were waiting for community paediatric services in Northern Ireland soared by 86%, rising from just over 5,300 children to over 10,000 children. The number of children who were waiting more than two years tripled, reaching 2,223. Behind those numbers are children who are waiting too long for help, parents who are struggling to get answers and families whose children are losing critical development time.”
“However, support must come with scrutiny, and that is our duty to the people whom we represent. We must get this right, not just for the sake of having passed legislation but for the sake of those whose lives may one day depend on it. I hope and trust that, throughout the process, our focus and guide will be the needs of the most vulnerable in our society and, of course, our essential healthcare staff who work with them.”
“We need to get that right, and the Committee Stage will allow us to do that. On the principle of that part of the Bill, I say that any such power must be exercised with caution, respecting the rights of residents and the importance of transparency in care environments. <BR /> <BR />I will address the cost of the Bill's implementation: £12 million a year for 10 years is a really serious commitment. However, if we are to do it right and it is a necessary commitment, financing the Bill will not be an insurmountable challenge. I would welcome from the Minister a breakdown of how that figure was calculated and confirmation of whether the Department envisages an incremental roll-out or a full implementation from the start. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP supports the principles of the Bill.”
“I am not going to reply to that, because this is not the place. We are talking about adult protection and adult safety for those at risk. A dual conversation needs to be had, and that is the forum in which to discuss the differences in the nuances of that. I do not want to take the Speaker's job here, but we should stick to the matter at hand. <BR /> <BR />We should have some sort of safety built in to the Bill so that people who see neglect are able to raise that confidentially. Why? It is important because the individual — the service user — needs that protection. <BR /> <BR />We have said that there will be detailed scrutiny on the use of CCTV, and I welcome the fact that the Minister has said that. I am sure that we will explore that, because there are some concerns.”
“I thank the Member for her intervention. I think that there is cross-party agreement about the introduction of a duty of candour. I know that there are difficulties with some of the specific details, but, certainly, it is a conversation that could well take place alongside a Bill such as this.”
“That is a point on which I will not start to deviate, but it is sufficient to say that a Bill that seeks to protect adults at risk must also embed protections for those who expose the harm or the neglect that could take place.”
“We absolutely must learn from the past, and that means creating structures that are not beholden to the systems that have previously failed. <BR /> <BR />There are other elements in the Bill that I welcome, such as the creation of the new offences, the statutory basis for advocacy and the ability to develop the protection plans. However, I encourage the Minister to consider including a provision for independent whistle-blowing. Front-line staff must be able to raise concerns safely and confidentially. That is a crucial part of any safeguarding culture. That point could not be more relevant than it is at this exact time.”
“Social work is a highly pressurised profession, and I am keen to hear assurances from the Minister that social workers will be supported, resourced and protected as they take on the new, additional duties under the legislation. <BR /> <BR />We then have the issue of accountability, which is obviously central, and we know that from the independent review of Muckamore Abbey. That review recommended standing down the Adult Safeguarding Partnership and replacing it with an independent adult protection board — the key word is "independent". The Bill outlines the creation of a board, but it omits that crucial detail. If we are serious about rebuilding public trust, why are we not establishing a truly independent body?”
“We know that the Department does not envisage newly qualified staff immediately assuming the new responsibilities outlined in the Bill, so that raises these questions: who will deliver the service, and how will the Department and the trusts organise that workforce sustainably? I make those points not to try to find inconsistencies in the Bill; it is to say that we are now looking to the future, when the Bill will make its way through and be passed, which is what we want to see, and we want to make sure that, when it passes, we are not left with a workforce that struggles to deliver that or that we fill all the posts here but create vacancies in other parts of the service, which can cause problems. <BR /> <BR />With new powers must come new protections not just for service users but for staff.”
“While it is welcome that 340 undergraduates will commence their studies in September, with a further 15 at Ulster University (UU), there is still a backlog that needs to be addressed. The most recent data that the Committee received showed that 255 social work vacancies exist and that 240 students will graduate this September. It is often really important to make it clear that not everyone who graduates as a social worker will automatically commence employment with the health trusts. In fact, the latest data from the Social Care Council shows that just 71% of social workers across the HSC trust network end up working there, so addressing that backlog is absolutely crucial.”
“As I understand it, that Act has not been fully implemented, so it would be good to find out how any deficiencies in it could have an impact on the success of the Adult Protection Bill. Will the Department work to align both in practice and in law? Related to that, it is absolutely vital that, as the Bill progresses, the learning disability service model also progresses. The Muckamore Abbey Hospital story illustrated more profoundly and tragically that people with a learning disability are often those who are most at risk. We must not pass a law on adult protection in isolation; rather, it must work in tandem with real reform in how we deliver learning disability services. <BR /> <BR />That brings me to the workforce. The social work profession is absolutely critical to the delivery of the Bill.”
“I think of the conversations that we have had, particularly in the all-party group on youth participation, on the concern that suddenly, one day, you move from being a young person to being an adult. It means that children who may be at risk will suddenly be exposed to a range of different services than they were the day before simply because of the fact that they turned 18. I ask that some thought be given to that now, because we may find that it is a problem down the line. <BR /> <BR />I also want to address the status of the Mental Capacity Act 2016, as it has a direct correlation with the Bill in individuals' finances, daily living, care and protections.”