Paula Bradshaw
South Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“They were places where those who were vulnerable were concealed, young mothers were stripped of their babies and children were stripped of their identities. Let us be resolute in our remembrance of what happened behind the doors of those institutions.”
“At all stages, the Committee has set out its clear support for the legislation's overarching aims and principles, which are to establish a statutory public inquiry into the systemic failings associated with mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses between 1922 and 1995 and to create a statutory redress scheme for t…”
“Again, I refuse to call them "mother-and-baby homes", for we now know that there was nothing homely about them. What the Bill can and must do is offer a tangible declaration that the state accepts its responsibility.”
“As Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office, I welcome the opportunity to speak at the Final Stage of the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.”
“Key points were also made in relation to redress: the need to ensure that the Executive Office introduces clear guidelines for the scheme as soon as practicable; the need for the Executive Office to widely communicate and promote the scheme to all victims and survivors, including those who live overseas; and the need for the Executive Off…”
“The First Minister and deputy First Minister tabled a number of amendments that gave effect to the Committee's intent across a number of clauses. In several instances, the Committee chose to withdraw its amendments in favour of the Ministers' wording, where that better reflected the broader book of the law.”
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“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to propose the Alliance Party amendment. Members, Christmas is a time for reflection. For many of us, the period between Christmas and New Year offers space to take stock of the year just passed and the year ahead. It was during that period that I felt deep frustration at the lack of political progress and, more important, the limited tangible difference that the Executive have made to people's lives over the past 12 months. That frustration is widely held across our society. Two years on from the restoration of devolution, many people still feel that improvements to their day-to-day lives — improvements that they were promised and, indeed, are entitled to expect — have not been brought about.”
“Apologies, Mr Speaker, that I was late for the start of the speech, and thank you, deputy First Minister, for the statement. It seems that it was a positive meeting. That is exactly what the British-Irish Council should meet about. My concern is that, as well as collaborating, we are competing across these islands. Much of your statement related to future-proofing the sector, which will require investment. Will you update the House on the draft investment strategy 2050?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. Will you, please, further outline the budgetary context in which demands for the legal aid fee uplifts are being made?”
“What are you talking about? Of course I realised. Of course I realised.”
“I want the record to reflect that I spoke in every single debate on the COVID regulations, and I always stressed that we in the Alliance Party were deeply troubled by the fact that the Health Minister had such far-reaching powers. During —.”
“No, it is. It is about institutional reform. The report laid bare the need for it. My question to you is: have you read Baroness Hallett's response? These —.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. This is about institutional reform, so —”
“Will the Member give take an intervention?”
“We owe it to the families who grieved; the health and social care workers who carried unbearable burdens; the children and young people whose lives were disrupted; and the future generations who deserve institutions that are capable of protecting them. I urge Members to support our motion, and I commend it to the House.”
“We know that the Belfast Agreement was an international agreement, so we think that institutional reform will require all partners to step forward. I do not see any reason why we would exclude the partners who were instrumental in bringing about the institutions in the first place. I will move on. <BR /> <BR />There will always be those who say that this is not the right time, but, if we cannot reform our institutions after a crisis that took so many lives, when will be the right time? Another crisis will come. It will not look exactly like COVID, but it will come. The test for us all is whether we act when we have the chance.”
“Whether the next shock is in public health, the economy or climate, cooperation with the UK Government and the Irish Government must be grounded in stable, agreed structures, not improvised arrangements made in panic. Those are the foundations of competent government, and they reflect Alliance's values: pluralism over polarisation; service over division; and the belief that good government is not optional but our duty. That is why the motion calls on the Secretary of State to convene a process of institutional reform in consultation with the Irish Government and local parties and stakeholders. Some of what is needed requires action beyond this Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our institutions were designed to end conflict, protect identity and guarantee representation. Those purposes remain vital, but a system built primarily to manage division is not automatically a system that is capable of managing a fast-moving public health emergency. The inquiry makes that point plainly. Reform does not mean dismantling power-sharing. It means strengthening it and building resilience into the structures that we already have so that they hold firm under pressure. We need open, honest communication with the public. Trust takes years to earn and moments to lose, and we cannot claim to have learned lessons unless transparency becomes the norm rather than the exception. <BR /> <BR />We must recognise that future crises will not stop at our borders.”
“Those are human stories, not statistics, and many families now ask, with reason, whether clearer, faster and more decisive leadership could have reduced their suffering. We cannot undo what happened, but we can choose what we learn. <BR /> <BR />One of the most serious findings for Northern Ireland was the fragmentation of decision-making. The Department of Health carried an impossible burden while the Executive failed to operate as a coherent system. Authority was unclear, advice was disputed and responsibility was not shared. Baroness Hallett described that as a structural weakness that left Northern Ireland exposed. Key sectors, especially care homes, carers and disability organisations issued repeated warnings about disproportionate impacts. Their voices were not systematically built into decision-making, and that must change.”
“No mandate gives a party the right to paralyse government when lives are at stake. Let me be clear: this is not an attack on power-sharing. Power-sharing is essential here in Northern Ireland. What we oppose is power-dividing. The institutions must be robust enough to function in a crisis. They must be fair, credible and genuinely collective when tested. <BR /> <BR />We must never forget the human reality behind what happened. Thousands of people in Northern Ireland died; families grieved without funerals; older people endured isolation; disabled people felt invisible; workers faced impossible choices; and children lost months of learning, stability and their normal lives.”
“I would like to make a bit of progress. <BR /> <BR />The most striking example came in November 2020, when a cross-community mechanism was used to block a proposed circuit breaker, despite majority support for stronger restrictions. As Baroness Hallett noted, that left the Executive unable to take timely and consistent decisions. The result was weaker and delayed intervention during a major wave of infection. It is difficult to see the fairness or the democracy in that outcome. <BR /> <BR />Dysfunction in a crisis is not just poor governance; it is dangerous governance. That is why the motion states:”
“During the pandemic, that meant that thousands of people whom we represent were effectively excluded from some of the most consequential decisions ever taken here. <BR /> <BR />The most striking example —.”
“Baroness Hallett stated plainly that the Executive were not the central forum for crisis leadership that they needed to be. A major factor in that failing was the misuse of cross-community mechanisms. Alliance has long warned that those safeguards were designed to protect inclusion, not to be used as political weapons. During the pandemic, they were used in ways that eroded public confidence and trust at a time when trust was already fragile. <BR /> <BR />That reflects a deeper structural flaw. The current cross-community voting arrangements create a democratic deficit. Alliance MLAs are elected by voters from all backgrounds, yet our votes do not count in cross-community Divisions.”
“Those failures are now matters of public record. There were delayed interventions, public disputes and decisions blocked when time was critical. Sadly, recent behaviour in the Chamber suggests that the culture has not materially changed. Bickering, point-scoring and the pursuit of sound bites still displace the serious collective work that the public expect from us. After the report was published, members of the public told the media that they have been conditioned not to expect much from political leaders here. That is a devastating indictment and one that we should all take seriously. <BR /> <BR />Health must never be a partisan battleground. In a public health emergency, the Executive table should be a place of unity, yet the inquiry found that cohesion was missing at several key points.”
“What emerged here was a disjointed and, at times, politically motivated approach to a global emergency that touched every household. The uncomfortable truth is that some Ministers did not consistently put the people of Northern Ireland first. When unity, clarity and discipline were needed, political point-scoring too often filled the space instead. The inquiry has confirmed that. Those are not Alliance's criticisms; they are the findings of an independent, statutory process, the chair of which concluded that Northern Ireland's institutions and structures significantly weakened the Executive's ability to respond effectively in the pandemic. <BR /> <BR />Rightly, the motion notes those findings with grave concern and expresses regret that there were failures of leadership displayed by Ministers from the two largest parties at key moments.”
“The findings of module 2 of the UK COVID-19 inquiry speak directly to the functioning of the Executive during one of the most serious crises of our lifetime. Before I turn to the substance of my remarks, I confirm that we will support the SDLP's amendment. My party made it clear in its response to the draft Programme for Government that institutional reform ought to be part of the Executive's work, but that becomes impossible when the two largest parties block progress. That, in itself, illustrates why reform is needed. <BR /> <BR />What the inquiry has laid out is stark; it describes a system that responded too slowly and which suffered from what Baroness Hallett called a fractured and dysfunctional approach to collective decision-making. In Northern Ireland, the dysfunction was magnified.”
“<BR /> <BR />I wish the team every success as it continues its season.”
“As a South Belfast MLA, I am particularly proud that the school, which has such strong links across our constituency, is setting the standard in schools hockey and providing positive role models for younger pupils, who will be inspired by that success. Through its long tradition of excellence in sport across hockey, rugby and many other disciplines, Inst continues to make an important contribution to life in the city and the health and well-being of our young people. <BR /> <BR />I also acknowledge Ulster Hockey and all those who are involved in organising the McCullough Cup and wider schools competitions. Their work ensures that our young people have access to high-quality competitive sport in a safe and supportive environment and helps to promote participation, inclusion and respect across schools and communities.”
“Their encouragement, lifts to training and constant support are crucial to making success such as this possible.”
“That is a remarkable achievement that speaks to the depth of talent and strength of the coaching set-up at the school. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to all the players whose commitment over many months and even years of training has culminated in this moment of well-deserved success. School sport is not just about trophies. It is about teamwork, resilience, learning to handle pressure and supporting one another in victory and defeat. The young people representing Inst have shown that all those qualities are present in abundance, and they showed that throughout the campaign. I also extend my congratulations to the coaching and support staff, the teachers who juggle academic responsibilities with time on the pitch and, of course, the parents and families who stand on the sidelines in all weathers.”
“As an MLA for South Belfast, I say a massive "Congratulations" to Royal Belfast Academical Institution (Inst) on winning the 2025 McCullough Cup schools hockey competition. <BR /> <BR />Last Thursday, Inst secured a superb 3-1 victory over Banbridge Academy in the final at Havelock Park, retaining the trophy that it won last year. Two goals from Josh Gill and a penalty from captain, Matthew McAreavey, sealed the win, with defender Riley Marney delivering a man-of-the-match performance at the back. That latest success means that Inst has now lifted the McCullough Cup for a record eighteenth time, extending its position as the most successful school in the history of that Ulster competition. It is also the first side to retain the title for a second year since Cookstown High School managed the feat in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.”
“Minister, I am just explaining that you said —.”
“Minister, I was in the Chamber along with many others on the day on which you made your statement on how you were taking forward the recommendations from the University of Stirling's review. It was very clear that day that you took your direction on the surrender principle from conversations, possibly, with Hospitality Ulster. Will you explain why you failed to engage with other stakeholders, such as local brewers and producers and CAMRA, in your decision-making?”
“I very much welcomed the announcement made earlier in the year that the School of Music in Donegal Pass was going to be included in the Urban Villages programme in that area. Can you give an update on the arts creative hub? Have any collaborative arrangements been put in place with other arts groups?”
“From the Executive Office Committee's point of view, we are very concerned that we have not been given this information to date. Why has it taken over a year for us to be made aware that the junior Minister did not attend that event in that official capacity? It could have put to bed a lot of the confusion and mistrust that the situation has created.”
“Thank you, Minister. Some parties in the Chamber have put into the public domain an extraordinary amount of misinformation about the consultation. Would you like to take the opportunity to set the record straight again on what the consultation actually proposed with regard to assaults on police, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and the PSNI's role in designing those proposals?”
“Minister, can you please outline the work that your Department has undertaken to design and implement domestic abuse protection notices (DAPNs) and domestic abuse protection orders (DAPOs)?”
“Thank you for your answer, Minister. How are smaller firms able to avail themselves of those interventions at the same rate as larger companies?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Following on from Mr Kingston's question, Minister, will you provide an update on the exact overspend that the Executive face this year?”
“Testing is free, confidential and one of the most important things that anyone can do. There should be no shame, no fear and no silence around caring for your health. <BR /> <BR />It is also crucial that people know this: when someone living with HIV is on effective treatment and has an undetectable viral load, they cannot pass the virus on. Undetectable equals untransmittable. That simple but powerful message saves lives. Our goal must be to bring an end to new HIV transmissions and an end to the stigma that has held so many people back for too long.”
“The Department of Health has also begun the process of formally endorsing the relevant guidance, so that eligible patients can soon start to receive the treatment. <BR /> <BR />Over the past year, we have seen further encouraging developments. Global evidence continues to support injectable PrEP as a safe, effective prevention tool; more people are accessing testing; more countries are expanding prevention; and researchers are now working on even longer-acting options. However, none of those advances will reach their full potential while stigma remains. Too many people still hesitate to test, because they fear what others think. Today, on World AIDS Day, I make it absolutely clear that getting tested is normal and responsible and protects your health and the health of those whom you love.”
“It challenges stigma every day with compassion and courage and offers a safe and welcoming space for people who might otherwise feel overlooked or misunderstood. Its contribution to public health and the well-being of so many individuals cannot be overstated. <BR /> <BR />Earlier this year, I submitted a question for written answer to the Health Minister about the long-acting, injectable, prevention treatment called cabotegravir (CAB-LA). The injection is administered every two months and offers a powerful alternative for people who struggle with daily pills or have difficulty accessing regular services. I am pleased that the Minister has written back to say that it has now been approved for use here as part of the roll-out of injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).”
“Today, we mark World AIDS Day, and this year's theme, "overcoming disruption and transforming the AIDS response", reminds us that, while much has been achieved, our work is far from over. Services remain under pressure, inequalities persist and many still face barriers with testing, treatment and support. At the heart of those barriers lies stigma. Too often, stigma dictates how we feel safe asking for help, who comes forward for testing and who remains silent. It remains one of the most damaging forces in our fight against HIV, preventing people from accessing the care that they deserve. <BR /> <BR />I want to take a moment to thank Positive Life for the vital work that it does across the province to support people living with HIV and their families.”
“Any draft multi-year Budget must be a genuinely cross-Executive exercise. Fiscal strategy cannot sit in a departmental silo. Every Minister must contribute, every Department must align with the Programme for Government and every decision must be driven by outcomes, not carve-ups.”
“We cannot risk having a situation in which powers are devolved but no Government are in place to respond to a downturn. Stability is a precondition for long-term budgeting, not an afterthought.”
“Households are under pressure; public services are under strain; and costly interventions, such as cutting corporation tax, are not palliative or prudent at this time. Any move towards greater fiscal powers must be grounded in local capacity and administrative readiness, not driven by the Treasury's preferred case. <BR /> <BR />We will not support the DUP's amendment today, as we feel that removing any reference to devolved fiscal powers negates the need for us to have an honest conversation about how we fund our public services. That said, we fully acknowledge that fiscal powers work only if there is a functioning Executive to use them. Our institutions remain one political crisis from collapse.”
“It also gives us the financial flexibility that has been missing for too long, and a greater ability to move capital and resource across financial years would allow us to respond to shocks more effectively. <BR /> <BR />The motion also raises the question of revenue. The Alliance Party has been clear: we cannot continually demand better services while refusing even to explore how our services are funded. In principle, enhanced fiscal devolution can bring decisions closer to communities, incentivise growth and productivity and allow fiscal policy to align with the social, economic and environmental priorities that are set out in the Programme for Government. We must be honest about context.”
“<BR /> <BR />That brings me to a crucial point. We weaken our negotiating hand if we refuse to address the inefficiencies in how we spend our money. We cannot demand fair funding while continuing to pour resources into duplicated services, for example, in education, into services shaped around division and into structures that pull funding into parallel provision rather than shared outcomes. Transformation, particularly in health and education, is not optional; it is essential if we are to spend our money better. A multi-year Budget gives us the tools to do that, to shift investment towards prevention, to support service redesign and to move away from annual firefighting and short-term thinking.”
“The Fiscal Council estimates need at 124%, and there are other estimates ranging from 126% to 132%, with a best estimate of 128%. Delivering on that evidence must be an urgent priority if the Executive are to put public finances on a stable footing. Securing a fiscal floor that reflects real need is not special pleading; it is evidence-based policy, and it strengthens our case for long-term funding certainty. However, we cannot ignore the reality that Treasury declined to engage with that evidence ahead of the recent spending review. That is disappointing, but it cannot be an excuse for inaction here. In fact, it underlines the need for the Executive to be proactive, and any future discussions must not be simply about asking for more but must demonstrate responsibility, reform and a credible multi-year plan.”
“The motion recognises something that has been obvious for far too long: Northern Ireland cannot continue to run public services on a one-year Budget. The last time we had an agreed multi-year Budget was in 2011-2015. Since then, instability, collapse and short-term allocations have trapped our system in crisis management. The result has been stalled reform of our public services, rising costs and a workforce and public left without certainty. A multi-year Budget is not a luxury; it is a basic foundation for credible planning, fair pay and long-term investment. <BR /> <BR />If we are serious about long-term stability, we must also be serious about the evidence. Independent analysis from the Fiscal Council and Professor Holtham is unequivocal. Northern Ireland's relative funding is significantly higher than current allocations recognise.”
“Thank you for that update, junior Minister. Things are moving on, and a growing body of campaigners is looking for a public inquiry. The victims and survivors of institutional abuse in mother-and-baby homes campaigned for a public inquiry for over 10 years. I greatly fear that this group of survivors will also have to campaign for 10 years. When will you make the decision on the recommendations put forward in the research?”
“It is not just a constitutional debate; it is a public safety requirement. <BR /> <BR />The inquiry has given us the facts; we now need the courage to act. The Alliance Party stands ready to deliver reform, protect public health and build institutions that serve people not parties.”
“We now need a commitment to honesty, accessible communication and full transparency in how decisions are recorded, scrutinised and explained. Trust is earned through behaviour, not rhetoric. <BR /> <BR />Thirdly, the most significant lesson is that the failures were not just operational; they were institutional. Our power-sharing structures are too vulnerable to deadlock. The Executive struggled to act quickly because our system gives the two parties from the largest designations what is, in effect, a sectarian veto to block action but gives no one the authority to lead in an emergency. The inquiry is also right to highlight the risk of paralysis if the Government collapse during a crisis. That is why the Alliance Party has consistently called for institutional reform.”
“First, we need a fundamental shift towards evidence-led, cross-departmental decision-making. The inquiry showed that too much responsibility fell on a single Department and that the operational independence of the Departments was a hindrance to cohesive decision-making, while other parts of government operated in silos. That cannot happen again. We need a standing emergency framework that brings every Department together, backed by strong scientific and public health capacity and led by clear, collective authority rather than competing political agendas. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, we must rebuild public trust. The confused messages and blurred lines between guidance and the law, as well as the spectacle of leaks and political point-scoring, damaged confidence at the very moment when people needed clarity and leadership.”
“Once again, I express my deepest sympathies to the people who were bereaved during the pandemic. I am sure that reading Baroness Hallett's report was distressing and probably re-traumatising. <BR /> <BR />The COVID inquiry has laid bare a simple but sobering truth: Northern Ireland's institutions were not equipped to deal with a crisis on that scale. The decision-making was fragmented and, in the words of the inquiry, "chaotic". Too often, politics trumped evidence, and the structures that we rely on to protect people simply did not function as they should have. Lives and livelihoods were put at greater risk because our system was slow, divided and reactive when it needed to be united, transparent and strategic. <BR /> <BR />What needs to happen now is clear.”
“I apologise that I missed the start of your statement, Minister. Yesterday, I raised with the Economy Minister the difficulty that independent businesses have in competing with multinationals. With regard to your statement, I am wondering about the multinational brewing businesses that have a stranglehold due to the surrender principle and their use of restrictive supply agreements, which the review referenced. Will you ask the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the beer and pubs market here?”