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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“Then, there were the businesses that were right at the edge of the flood. They were not affected. They were not able to claim any help or assistance because they were not flooded, but the footfall was zero. The streets were sealed off, yet they still had to pay rates, and they said that it was that move that absolutely crippled them when they needed help and assistance from the Executive. Here, nearly a year later, the Executive have been found totally and utterly wanting. We need a reform of rates that helps with the levels that are paid but, at the same time, is flexible enough to enable us to step in whenever businesses are in their moment of need.”
“This time last year, we were coming to the end of a process in Downpatrick: we were up to our waists in water, and the town was ravaged by floods. When we went to the businesses, many of them said, "We're still having to pay rates. We can't get anybody into the town — nobody is coming into a town that's flooded — but we still have to pay rates".”
“<BR /> <BR />Our amendment asks for work to be done on the reform of the non-domestic rates system. We all know what we hear when we go on to our high streets and talk to the businesses. They tell us — clearly and loudly — that the rates bill is their biggest bill. It cripples them: they have real struggles to pay it; it is a massive amount; it comes in every month; and they struggle to pay it. They have said that, if there is one thing that we could do to help them, it would be "Sort out the rates". They say, "If they were lower, we could survive. We can adapt to the changing environment, but take the rates bill and make it lower for us. That will be of great help". <BR /> <BR />I also want to talk about the importance of interventions in times of difficulty.”
“Absolutely; I cannot disagree with that. Many of our contributions today have referenced that. We have also acknowledged that the high street is changing. COVID had a big impact on shopping habits. Online shopping is now the norm, and that changes the configurations and types of businesses that we need on our high streets. High rates mean that many small family-based businesses are struggling to afford to be able to stay open, and, with many bigger businesses being located on the fringes of towns or in retail parks, the task of high street businesses is made much more difficult. We need to be able to try to support them. The bigger businesses that are located in the out-of-town retail parks can afford to keep themselves going. It is the local, family businesses that we need to support.”
“Regardless of what is lacking — be it content, the implementation, motivation or pace — the one message that we are sending today is that we feel that the high street task force is lacking and, therefore, needs to evaluate what it is doing to be able to try to improve outcomes for our small businesses.”
“<BR /> <BR />We agree with many of the points that have been raised. There has been mention of the high street task force. It has been around for many years. When I was the Chair of the Executive Office Committee, about four years ago, it was getting around to being established and beginning to look at the work that it was able to do. It was an opportunity for the Executive to show solidarity and tangible support for our high street businesses, but it has been found to be lacking and, if it is lacking, then it is failing our small businesses.”
“Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. We are pleased to welcome the motion, offer our amendment and support the other two amendments. Whilst it is a further non-binding motion from an Executive party, the main strand is to offer support to small businesses on our high streets, and the SDLP welcomes the ability to join in that support for them. While there are differences in the nuances, it is important in this debate that we focus on what we agree on, which is that we support our high streets and the businesses that are there. It would be unhelpful for the House to divide on this under a small sub-issue that is something that is taking place in another area. We need to focus on what we can do and send out the clear message that we support our high street businesses.”
“Given the recent announcement that funding will no longer be ring-fenced, is the Minister concerned that farming in the South will have a competitive edge? What can he do to address that?”
“Given that the Budget was anything but austere and that there is some stability in the institutions here after a decade of chaos, will the Minister commit to working with the Department of Health to ring-fence funding for transformation so that we can address waiting lists, which have hundreds of thousands of people on them, and also fix the system that put them on those lists in the first place?”
“Respectfully, action, yes. How many social homes did we start this year, and what was the target?”
“Homelessness and poverty go hand in hand. We must get serious about combating poverty as well. Poverty is, after all, a political choice, and we need our Executive to finally choose a course of action that will not leave people in poverty but will give them the best possible start in life, beginning with a home to call their own. To the Northern Ireland Executive, the people of South Down will undoubtedly say about homelessness and poverty, "Are you going to do something about it? Can you just get on with it?".”
“The homeless people who I know in South Down, who passionately care about their area, do not need another strategy. They need action that will get them a home, and they cannot wait any longer. When will the Executive start delivering homes for people in South Down? When will the Executive stop letting people down?”
“As one of my constituents reflected to me about the process:”
“They are spiralling out of control, with Housing Executive rent prices in parts of South Down the second highest across the North. The local housing allowance for people in those parts of South Down does not meet the rent price. I ask the Minister this question: what more can the Executive do to look at the lived reality of those who find themselves in housing stress, having to make an application for social housing and suddenly realising that they can no longer afford to live in an area that has been their home for so many years? What hope can the Executive offer the people in South Down and across the North who are homeless?”
“Whether they are from the 'Point, Downpatrick or the rural areas around the Mournes, we have far too many people and families who face homelessness or are homeless already. <BR /> <BR />We all know that those are not just statistics and that there are people, often with families, behind the numbers. Being unable to have a home to call your own causes disruption for families. Being forced to move into temporary accommodation and hostels can often bring an unwarranted stigma. It can also cause issues in education, as Diane Forsythe referenced, when families are moved about and children have to move from school to school or are so far from their school that they face long journeys each day. <BR /> <BR />If we are to address homelessness, we really need to address rising rent costs.”
“I have no doubt that it is also a cause of frustration for the Housing Executive, the social housing organisations and, indeed, the Minister. <BR /> <BR />We continue to find ourselves in the midst of a housing emergency in which demand outstrips the supply of social housing, so much so that, just last week, the SDLP secured a commitment from the House to recognise that housing emergency. It is our hope that action will follow from that. The action that we need is for the 47,000-plus people who are on the Housing Executive's waiting list. In our constituency, there are well in excess of 3,000 applicants in housing stress, more than 1,000 applicants who are homeless and more than 750 people who are on full-duty status.”
“I thank our constituency colleague Andy McMurray for bringing the Adjournment debate to the House. Regardless of whether people are in South Down or South Antrim, the issue of homelessness has relevance, and, sadly, it does not appear to be getting any easier. <BR /> <BR />All of us here will have been contacted in our constituency offices by people who are crying out for a home that they can call their own. We represent them as best we can, work alongside officials in the Housing Executive and ensure that they get every support possible through agencies such as Housing Rights, yet, time and again, we hear that people's points just are not enough for them to be allocated a property. That is a cause of frustration for us and for the individuals who contact the offices.”
“I will only say a few words. I was going to start by saying that moves like this welcome us into the 21st century. Then I checked, and the legislation for the rest of society was passed in 1999, so we are catching up with the last century by implementing the changes. All I will say is this: great, wonderful, but can we get on with some more? There are many other changes that we would love to see, such as electronic voting, so that it does not take 20 minutes to progress every time we have a Division because people have to physically walk around the Chamber. Many other changes could be made, but it is great to see the ones that we are discussing. This place should reflect society instead of being something like the ark. I definitely welcome the changes.”
“We will hear lots of words, as ever, but, Minister, when do you intend to publish a workforce plan specifically for midwifery that addresses the specific issues detailed and provide us with a specific timetable to see those issues addressed?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement, which, fundamentally, references the Renfrew report. I would have thought that, in the interests of openness and transparency, that could have been circulated to Health Committee members before its being published on the website for the public today, not least because buried right down in it, on page 26, in the middle of the first priority that is referenced, is the issue of staff shortages, which are impacting on the whole sector. <BR /> <BR />The Birthrate Plus® report indicates that we are 80 full-time midwives short, with only 16 of 80 students qualifying this year planning to work full time.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. If you get a chance, will you speak to the point that I made earlier about there being capacity in the community and voluntary sector but it does not have the money, yet the statutory sector has the money but not the staffing resources? Is there a way in which that could be merged to see whether some community and voluntary providers could do more?”
“They feel that, when they are crying out for help, nobody is there to assist them. I hope that the fact that we are having the debate and that there was the 'Spotlight' programme gives us the opportunity to use all of our collective energy to see what we can do to help some of the most vulnerable in our society. I hope that everybody can accept that it is about adults and children and can accept our amendment.”
“The voluntary and community sector tell us that, with a little more money, they could do much more, yet we are told that statutory services do not have the resources but have the money. If we were to match things up and give more money to the voluntary and community sector, they could deliver those services. Then we might be able to reach out and provide more services for adults and, as per the amendment, children as well. <BR /> <BR />From speaking to those parents, I have heard first-hand exactly what they have had to face but also that they felt that they were not being supported. It felt like that was the bit that hurt them. They felt that, when they were in their moment of need, nobody was there to help them. There was no emergency respite provision, and there was no ongoing respite provision.”
“The exceptional committee, staff and volunteers continue to look at what they can do to provide more help and support. It has been in existence since 1990, and I would hazard a guess that not everyone across the Chamber will know of its work, but I am sure that they know, in their own constituencies, of similar organisations. When it is the voluntary and community sector doing these things, you have to wonder if it becomes a postcode lottery. If there is a good solid community organisation in one place, people in that area get services. However, if there is not the same provision in the voluntary and community sector somewhere else, people may not get the same level of service. <BR /> <BR />I will conclude with an interesting thing.”
“If the support breaks down, the maintenance of life at home may fall apart. <BR /> <BR />I reflect on a phenomenal facility in my home town of Downpatrick in South Down, called Mainstay Down Residential Project. The facility was set up in 1990 by local families who had family members with learning disabilities, complex needs and challenging behaviours and wanted the best possible care for their family members. What began as a residential project for nine people has grown over the years to supporting over 150 service users who are assisted through residential supported living, respite care and day opportunities. That is all taking place and is a prime example of where families came together when they identified that their needs were not being met and wanted to do something about it.”
“We have come a long way in safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk. However, we know that there is a long way to go and, as time goes on and times change, how we safeguard children and adults at risk is an ever-evolving process. Respite services play a critical role in that task, and it is regrettable that the services that I have detailed are so intermittent in how they are funded and resourced. It is not a lifetime ago that the state would not have recognised the value of children and adults with learning difficulties and often would have just put them into an institution and locked the doors. Times really have changed and we can move away from that and have a model where people can be maintained at home and supported, but that can only be maintained if the support is there.”
“It is actually a real strength, and those families have my utmost respect and admiration. By availing themselves of respite services, the families can just breathe for a day or two, gather their strength together and ensure that, if they have other children, for example, those children can maybe get a bit more attention during that time as well. I am often reminded of my previous career as a youth worker, where I saw that maybe bringing people into the youth club for an hour or two provided that little bit of space for the family to get a few bits and pieces organised that maintained family life and allowed the young people to engage with peers and enjoy some fun time. <BR /> <BR />They are among the most vulnerable in our society, and, if we are not doing everything that we can to safeguard them, we have to question what we are doing.”
“Respite services allow the family structure at home to be maintained, and I am sure that Members across the Chamber will have been contacted by families of children or adults with a learning disability and will know the stories of the routine that happens at home when there is a breakdown of the family in that way. For those families, daily life is not straightforward. Nothing is a simple matter, no two days are the same and almost everything is exhausting. <BR /> <BR />Many of those families often feel that, by speaking this aloud or admitting they are struggling, it is a reflection on their capacity or ability as a parent: nothing could be further from the truth. Admitting that they are struggling is a reflection on their humanity, and there can be nothing more human than knowing that you need help and support.”
“Absolutely. I totally agree, but the regrettable reality is that, unfortunately, we are left in a scenario where the police are called in to provide that support. They are almost providing a public order response to it because those are the only tools at their disposal. Maybe we can look at joined-up working so that that is not the approach that is taken. Something positive to come out of the debate could be to see whether there is an opportunity for Justice and Health to work together to tighten up protocols in the Departments. <BR /> <BR />For children and adults with a learning disability, as the motion rightly references, respite provision is not a luxury but a necessity for parents, families or other unpaid carers. It is a necessity for those carers — those family members — as well.”
“That child is not a criminal, but the police response is to put them into the back of a police car. There is also the unintended stigma that is attached when that is seen to take place in their community.”
“Meeting those families and hearing their stories first-hand really was a deciding factor for us in tabling the amendment because we just cannot allow children's voices to be forgotten in the discussion. That is why our amendment simply includes "and children" after each of the references to adult services. We feel that it is really important that we do not overlook safeguarding and protection and also the services that we provide for children. <BR /> <BR />From the outset, it is important that there is joined-up activity in the Executive. This is not simply something that rests with the Department of Health. In speaking to some of those families, we were able to hear, for example, that there are many times when the PSNI is called out to deal with a child with a learning disability who is displaying aggressive behaviour.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the proposer of the motion, which is timely and is on a matter concerning some of the most vulnerable people in our society. When considering the motion, the SDLP felt that it could be strengthened and enhanced through our amendment. In discussing the provision or lack of provision of respite services for adults with a learning difficulty, I fear that we do a disservice by not including children in that discussion. <BR /> <BR />Recently, along with Claire Hanna MP, I had the opportunity to meet parents from the Forgotten Voices campaign on behalf of the National Autistic Society Northern Ireland. That was highlighted profoundly in a recent BBC NI 'Spotlight' programme that examined the care that children with complex needs and challenging behaviours require.”
“Does the Minister agree that a stand-alone hate crime Bill would assist the racial equality strategy?”
“The Executive Office strategy to end violence against women and girls cites RSE as an incredibly important tool to help reduce such violence. Given the weeks that are in it, we should try to depoliticise and not trivialise such matters. <BR /> <BR />Minister, will you commit to ensuring that further education colleges and schools work together to ensure that there are increased pathways for children and young people on their educational journey? Too often, those two sectors compete with each other, which causes duplication and reduces the offer that is available.”
“She was lucky that it was diagnosed relatively early and that a good service was in place to wrap around her. We are so grateful and thankful that she has recovered from that and progressed very well. It would be wrong to have this discussion without mentioning how Margaret has been a beacon for people in South Down — our area — who have seen her journey and seen her joining the support classes in the community. She has provided, through her experiences, a personal story that people have been able to tie into. <BR /> <BR />I absolutely support the debate — it is really important to have it — and I hope that we can get some updates from the Minister on how we can continue to ensure early detection.”
“Breast cancer is a condition that can affect men. Men are also diagnosed with breast cancer. Although the numbers are very small, it is important to throw it in, in case any men who have had breast cancer are listening to the debate. We need to break that stigma. If men find lumps, they need to make their way to their doctor to try to get the all-important treatment. That additional stigma might prevent men from reaching out. <BR /> <BR />I have the utmost admiration for those who have overcome the illness. I want to take a few seconds to reflect on the case of a very close friend and former Member and SDLP party leader, Margaret Ritchie, who suffered from breast cancer. She overcame it. We journeyed with her through that process, and you could see her personal approach in wanting to fight that illness.”
“However, that does not help the person who gets a diagnosis and wonders, "Could that have been picked up quicker?". As John O'Dowd mentioned, it is vital that people can access primary care quicker so that they can be signposted. The important issue is getting the diagnosis. <BR /> <BR />Breast cancer is horrendously cruel. The treatment can be debilitating and life-altering. The medications can make you lose weight and then gain weight. You can lose their your hair from the chemotherapy, and your body will be affected if you have a mastectomy. We are becoming a more image-driven society. Many women experience a real battle whereby they beat the disease but lose their self-image and self-esteem. Early diagnosis is important because, if you survive, there is a life beyond the diagnosis. <BR /> <BR />I want to make a tiny call-out.”
“It is about striving to get the best possible outcome for people — and that outcome is early detection. We know that, with breast cancer and all cancers, early diagnosis gives you the best opportunity to survive. <BR /> <BR />Receiving the information that you have cancer must be absolutely frightening. You can instantly feel like your life is crumbling away from you. It must be even more frightening to hear that you are in the later stages because of delays in the health service. You will know that it would not have had to be that way if the proper resources and services were in place to help. That is not a criticism of the Department, because it can only do what it is doing, and it only has so many people and so many pounds.”
“This is a timely debate on a very important issue. It relates to Upper Bann, but, as the SDLP health spokesperson, I know that breast cancer can impact on people anywhere. <BR /> <BR />We have mentioned the nuances whereby there are slightly different outcomes depending on which trust area you reside in. I know, from various discussions that the Minister has had over the past number of weeks and months, that we have to move away from the silo mentality within different trusts to try to ensure that people get the best possible outcomes no matter where they live. Whilst it is important that outcomes are benchmarked across trusts, we also need to look at the international picture, because I am not so sure that we have the best outcomes here compared with America or other parts of Europe.”
“Minister, if there are numerous objections to a specific part of the consultation, will you give an undertaking that, if that is the will of the public, you will remove those specific clauses from any future Bill ?”
“Minister, the medical fraternity is quite clear that it was offered money for GP indemnity. Was that not the case? We all lobbied for that, and we were told that it was being delivered. However, GPs found that, although they got the money, it had been removed from other parts of their contract. That is a sleight of hand that has to be sorted out because it is impacting on face-to-face delivery for people in our communities.”
“At the end of the debate, the Minister could say that he will do all the things that are in the motion and the amendment, but there is absolutely no obligation on him to do so. Of course, the Executive parties all know that; they signed up to a Budget that does not give them the money to do anything further.”
“A better way of putting it is that they are literally going through the amended motions. <BR /> <BR />This does not feel normal. All four Executive parties are participating in a debate with each other on a motion that has no binding effect. There will be no tangible outcome for the Children's Hospice, for the children and families who use its services or for any other service provider in the sector. The parties that brought forward the debate and the amendment today and that sit around the Executive table with one another know that the motion will not change the Budget allocation to the Department, which cannot survive on the budget that it has. Why is the issue not being debated around the Executive table? Why are no resolutions being brought to that forum? All that we have here today is a talking shop.”
“Meanwhile, the Executive party with the financial brief is not contributing to the back and forth on the motion and the amendment.”
“Today, we spent just over an hour scrutinising actual legislation and will probably now spend longer debating a motion that has no binding effect and will not result in a tangible outcome; it is simply the Assembly giving its view on the matter. Once again, we are being treated to a motion from one Executive party calling on another Executive party to do something, and we have another Executive party amending that motion so that the Executive party that tabled the motion has something else to do. I will make an effort to clarify what is taking place: we have a motion that calls on a Minister to do something and an amendment that aspires to see something further done, and, if the motion and the amendment are approved, they will be contained in a non-binding motion, meaning that the Minister does not have to do anything at all.”
“Of course, the SDLP will support the motion and the amendment. We recognise the sterling work that is carried out by the Children's Hospice and acknowledge the financial pressures that it faces. We also agree that palliative care should be a core HSC service and would like the Minister to prioritise the inclusion of additional funding in future Health budgets. Of course, we would also like to see the Minister commit to funding 50% of the hospice's costs. Who could not support all that, given the nature of the hospice's work? It is entirely acceptable and appropriate to call for that, and that is why we are glad to support the motion and the amendment. <BR /> <BR />It would, however, be disingenuous of us, as legislators, not to fully scrutinise the motion and identify any issues with it.”
“The small business rate relief scheme, which did have to close for a period because this place was collapsed, should never have done so. It is a valuable source of assistance to businesses on our high streets, including in my constituency of South Down, where many were impacted on by flooding. Will the Minister advise how much money was paid into the Department from the time the scheme closed in March 2023 until it reopened in May of this year?”
“I thank the Minister for working so diligently and quickly through his questions. <BR /> <BR />Does the Minister agree that school principals know pretty much from the beginning of one year what they will require in the following year and that there should be a procedure for EA to interact with school principals much earlier to determine what needs there are, rather than waiting until the beginning of September to see problems?”
“Sorry. I did not realise that I had a question.”
“If we have this greater need for even more social workers, they are going to be spread even thinner on the ground, and it is the more stressful roles that social workers are going to want to exit from to take up the new roles. The British Association of Social Workers, as an example, constantly says that there are not enough people in training and there are not enough funded places for the training of social workers, which means that we are not actually replacing a depleted workforce. All roads lead to the fact that there are going to be continuing pressures and we really need to see some sort of resolution. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to hearing from the Minister who, I am sure, will be aware of the issues and no doubt will be able to give us an update on what the Department is doing.”