Maurice Bradley
East Londonderry · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“The proposal to establish formally the post of Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, which is efficiently held in designate form by Geraldine Hanna at the moment, has the potential to provide victims with a stronger voice and ensure that public bodies are held to account for the services that they provide.”
“Good intentions alone are not enough. <BR /> <BR />I would argue that victims must never become an afterthought in our justice system, whether that be when considering road traffic offences, violence against women and girls, child criminal exploitation, hate crime or sentencing reform.”
“I will speak as a DUP member of the Justice Committee on the Second Stage of the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill. For me, the Bill is not simply about creating another office or changing another piece of legislation; it is about people.”
“<BR /> <BR />As the Bill progresses through Committee Stage, I will approach its policy objectives with an open mind. I look forward to hearing directly from victims' organisations, witnesses, legal professionals and criminal justice agencies. Where the Bill can be strengthened, it should be strengthened.”
“One of the comments that I hear most often is not about what happened but about how people felt afterwards. They felt forgotten, left in the dark and like just another case number moving slowly through a system that they did not understand. That should concern every one of us. Justice should not end when an offender is charged.”
“Minister, you have partially answered my question, but it was really about the fact that, when services are centralised in the greater Belfast area, services are denied to those elsewhere in the Province. There has been a continued reduction in services across Northern Ireland because of their centralisation in Belfast.”
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“Cathy Mason highlighted the battle that residents must have with landlords and the NIHE to address problems with mould and damp in a timely fashion, and she suggested that there is too much delay. David Brooks cited inclement weather as a contributor to mould. He also mentioned old housing stock, some of which is in use today. Maolíosa McHugh —.”
“She called for action on Awaab's law and for recognition of problems and periods for taking action when emergencies or significant faults are identified. Colm Gildernew highlighted the fact that Awaab's life could have been saved had action been taken — that is a sad reality; it was an unnecessary loss of life — and called for reforms to the private rented sector. <BR /> <BR />Kellie Armstrong highlighted the fact that too many people in Northern Ireland are living with damp and mould. She suggested that the fact that they are doing so is a sign of a sector that is under pressure. Robbie Butler said that one of the most common complaints heard in his office is that work is done to cover the problem but not to address the cause.”
“The DUP will continue to focus on delivery, reform and realism, ensuring that safe, healthy homes are delivered in practice, not just promised in principle. <BR /> <BR />Gerry Carroll suggested that the poorest in society are affected most, with their living methods being blamed as a cause of damp and mould etc. It is totally untrue that those things cause mould; there are other contributory factors. Mark Durkan insisted that the problem affects not just Northern Ireland Housing Executive property but the private rented sector, and he encouraged the Minister to look into both. It is a rising problem in my constituency, where the number of complaints has risen from 744 in 2019-2020 to 1,307 in 2023-24. <BR /> <BR />Pam Cameron said that no one should be living in a home with damp and mould.”
“If Members are serious about tackling damp and mould, we must be serious about enabling the Housing Executive to borrow. Without that power to borrow, progress will always fall short and be slow.”
“Damp and mould are serious public health hazards, which have been linked to respiratory illness, poor mental health and a negative impact on children's development. <BR /> <BR />Fuel-poor households are particularly vulnerable, because low incomes, high energy costs and poor energy efficiency all combine to create cold, damp homes. It is also important to be clear, as Awaab's law recognises, that damp and mould is not caused by tenants' lifestyles. It is not caused by cooking, washing, drying clothes or doing other normal household activities. Where homes lack proper insulation, ventilation or heating, condensation and mould are predictable structural outcomes, which are made worse when families cannot afford to heat their home.”
“Without borrowing powers, even well-designed strategies remain constrained by the Treasury's rules rather than by housing need. Granting the Housing Executive access to borrowing would unlock long-term, planned investment that would allow damp and mould to be tackled proactively, homes to be insulated properly and energy efficiency improvements to be delivered at scale. That is why the warm healthy homes strategy 2026-2036 matters. It provides a clear framework, but it will succeed only if the Housing Executive has the financial tools to deliver it. Damp and mould are not minor maintenance issues. Much of the problems stem from houses' poor design and from inadequate insulation, ventilation and heating systems.”
“The Housing Executive manages more than 82,000 homes. Most of them were built decades ago and now require a significant retrofit, which it is estimated will cost millions of pounds over the next 10 or 20 years. That level of investment simply cannot be delivered through annual Budgets alone. Unlike housing associations, the Housing Executive is classified as a public body and is therefore prohibited from borrowing to invest in its own stock. The result is predictable: essential upgrades are delayed; preventative maintenance is crowded out by emergency repairs; and progress is far slower than tenants deserve. That is not mismanagement but a structural funding problem. <BR /> <BR />The Communities Minister has been right to press for reform.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Mr Carroll for proposing the motion and Mr Durkan for proposing amendment No 1. As the Minister said, there is not much difference between our amendment and Mr Durkan's. I join Members in expressing my sympathy to the family of Awaab Ishak, who lost his life far too soon and for a very unnecessary reason. <BR /> <BR />Nobody in the Chamber disputes that people deserve warm, safe and healthy homes. Damp and mould in homes is unacceptable in this day and age, and it is a common theme of the complaints made in my constituency office, and I expect that it is the same for every other MLA. Addressing damp and mould is a priority. The motion, however, fails to confront a simple reality that is a barrier to delivery, which is the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's inability to borrow.”
“My question is along the same lines as Mr Gildernew's. Rural schools play a vital role in the community. Will the Education Minister make allowances or concessions available for small rural schools to ensure that they are maintained?”
“Since that funding was raised, can you give us an update on where the Olympic legacy fund stands?”
“It is acknowledged that concerts and other large-scale events can generate significant revenue and contribute positively to the local economy. At the same time, there is a broad public expectation that, where public funding has played a substantial role, a fair proportion of any commercial return should reflect that investment. <BR /> <BR />With regard to Casement Park, it is important that any redevelopment is affordable, sustainable and capable of operation over the long term, as I have said, therefore ensuring financial viability and value for money, which is essential to maintaining public confidence in major capital projects. The motion provides an opportunity to consider those issues in a balanced and pragmatic way. For that reason, I support it and the amendment.”
“We support the motion and the amendment. However, I must make it clear: I support stadia and facility development that is necessary for any and all sports to grow. <BR /> <BR />In relation to Casement Park, it is important that any redevelopment is affordable, sustainable and capable of being operated responsibly over the long term, thereby ensuring financial viability and transparency, which is essential to maintaining public confidence in major capital projects. However, in the context of ongoing pressures on public finances, it is reasonable for the Assembly to consider how publicly funded venues are used and how wider public benefit is achieved. Where stadia that have received public investment are used for non-sporting events, it is appropriate to examine whether there should be a mechanism or some return to the public purse.”
“The double standard will be obvious to the public. Sinn Féin, Alliance and the SDLP are using the motion to distract from their failures in health, infrastructure, justice and economic confidence. While they shout from the sidelines, DUP Ministers are getting on with business and the job of delivering for the people whom we represent. The people of Northern Ireland do not want theatre; they want leadership, stability and delivery. That is what DUP Ministers are focused on. <BR /> <BR />This is a nonsense debate on a nonsense report, designed to attack a Minister because he aided the PSNI by making a public statement on social media —”
“It is not about defending one Minister; it is about defending fairness, consistency and credibility, because, if the standards system loses those, it loses the confidence of the public and rightly so. <BR /> <BR />At a time when people across Northern Ireland are waiting years for hospital treatment, struggling to see a GP and driving on roads that are falling apart, the Opposition have chosen to use their limited time in the Chamber on yet another political stunt. The SDLP knows that the motion will reform nothing, so the only plausible explanation is that it is about headlines and press releases, not about helping people. Once again, a DUP Minister is criticised not for breaking a rule or causing harm but for how a post might have been interpreted, even though the commissioner found no evidence linking it to violence.”
“<BR /> <BR />If the motion passes, the lesson to Ministers from all parties is simple: do not reassure the public, relay police requests or speak clearly in volatile situations. Silence becomes the safest option. Let us be honest: that silence benefits those who thrive in chaos and grievance politics. It is not good governance. The House cannot defend a standards system in which Sinn Féin Ministers receive latitude for actions while DUP Ministers are punished for interpretations, evidence is demanded in some cases but speculation will suffice in others and the rules appear to be tightened or loosened depending on who is in the dock, so to speak.”
“That is not consistency: it is imbalance. It gives the unavoidable impression that, when Sinn Féin Ministers act improperly, the bar is high, but, when a unionist Minister speaks imperfectly, the bar is suddenly very low. I ask the House this: when Sinn Féin Ministers attended events that breached COVID regulations, were they assessed on emotional tone? Were they disciplined for not expressing sufficient remorse or empathy? Were they judged on compassion rather than compliance? No, they were judged on rules and evidence. Now, we have a new elastic standard that applies only when convenient and a chilling effect. Let me be clear on one point: neither Minister Lyons nor any DUP Minister will take lectures on empathy from Sinn Féin, Alliance or the SDLP.”
“In Mr Lyons's case, evidence disappears, and perception takes over. Now, suddenly, the test has changed. Here, a DUP Minister issues a statement condemning violence and acknowledging lawful protest, and does so following contact from the PSNI. Instead of asking what rules were broken or what evidence proves harm, we are told that someone "could" reasonably conclude that tensions "may" have been heightened or there "may" have been a risk. That is not a standards regime; that is a woke vibes test. <BR /> <BR />There are different rules for different parties. Let us be honest about what the public see. Sinn Féin Ministers break COVID rules, explanations are accepted, mitigation is applied and there are no invented standards. A DUP Minister issues a lawful statement, hindsight is applied, empathy is graded and a breach is found.”
“No one was found in breach because the public "might" have lost confidence, a photograph or video clip "could" have sent the wrong signal, or someone felt that the tone was inadequate.”
“Before I say anything more, I welcome the North Antrim representative back to his proper place. <BR /> <BR />Let me be absolutely clear: the motion is not just flawed; it is selective, and that selectivity matters. When it comes to standards in the House, some parties appear to be judged on what they did and others on how someone might feel about what they said. During COVID, Sinn Féin breaches were ignored and latitude was granted. Ministers attended large funerals, appeared at mass gatherings and participated in events that plainly breached public health regulations. Those are objective facts, yet, when those cases were examined, the commissioner focused on capacity and context. Party political settings were treated as non-ministerial, and Ministers were given latitude for uncertainty involving guidance and judgement calls.”
“Thank you very much, Minister, for your answer. It pains me to think that the Executive cannot identify programmes that are no longer sustainable, rather than putting the blame onto the Departments and telling them to come up with a solution.”
“For those reasons, I support the motion and encourage Members to do likewise, for all sports and all sportsmen and sportswomen across Northern Ireland.”
“There is also a clear economic opportunity: a sports museum and related heritage initiatives would have the potential to strengthen Northern Ireland's tourism offering, support local economies and enhance our cultural profile. <BR /> <BR />That is why it is right that the motion calls on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Minister for Communities to establish a working group. That is a sensible and measured approach, which will allow for proper scrutiny and for value for money to be assessed. The motion does not prejudge outcomes, nor does it commit funding. It simply recognises the value of our sporting legacy and supports a structured exploration of how that can be better celebrated.”
“<BR /> <BR />A few years ago, I worked with the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councils' museum services to stage an exhibition on Harry Gregg, showcasing international jerseys, memorabilia, medals and caps and giving an insight into Harry's sporting journey from joiner to one of the best goalkeepers in the world. It was one of the most successful exhibitions ever held by that council's museum service and proved to me that, if we had the facility, it would work. <BR /> <BR />I played adult football from 15 to 54, and I am still involved in the sport from grassroots to Irish Football Association (IFA) level. I appreciate fully the benefits of all sports and the passions that they generate among all kinds of people.”
“Too often, their achievements are remembered in isolation, rather than celebrated collectively. There is therefore a strong case for exploring the establishment of a sports museum to honour sporting excellence, inspire future generations and continue to build on our sporting legacy. The work being taken forward by the Ulster Sports Legacy community interest company (CIC) reflects that ambition. Its broad approach combines physical and digital collections, oral histories, film and memorabilia to show how our sporting story can be preserved in a modern and accessible way, while encouraging participation and aspiration.”
“I support the Ulster Unionist Party motion, which expresses pride in "Northern Ireland's exceptional sporting legacy". Sport has played a defining role in our society across towns, villages and cities and has united communities, fostered discipline and teamwork and created moments of shared pride that reach far beyond the sporting field. Those achievements belong to all of our people and deserve to be properly recognised. <BR /> <BR />The motion is right to note that those:”
“Minister, what other legal costs has your Department recently incurred ?”
“This moment underlines the importance of transparent communication, timely engineering interventions and sustained investment in infrastructure that underpins everyday life. It also makes a compelling case for a new bridge at Kilrea that will serve the town and district well into the future. I urge the Minister and the Department for Infrastructure to commence a scoping exercise on a new bridge over the River Bann at Kilrea to complement the relatively new structures at Toome and Agivey.”
“The current situation strengthens the case for looking beyond short-term repair to the provision of a new bridge at Kilrea designed to replace the ageing structure over the River Bann. A modern replacement bridge would not only meet contemporary safety and engineering standards but provide long-term resilience and improve capacity and reliability for residents, businesses and emergency services alike. Developing a new bridge would help ensure that Kilrea and the surrounding district were not left exposed to repeated disruption, offering a sustainable solution that supports economic growth, community well-being and regional connectivity for decades to come. <BR /> <BR />While recent months have been challenging, the ongoing works and wider discussions that they have prompted present an opportunity.”
“The works represent an important step towards restoring connectivity, but they also underline the vulnerability of relying on a single, ageing structure for such a critical transport link.”
“In that context, I place on record my thanks to the Minister and her departmental staff for their ongoing engagement and for keeping my office fully informed of developments throughout the process.”
“Local councillors have highlighted the increasing pressures placed on parents, pupils and school staff, as journeys become longer, more complex and more congested, particularly during peak traffic periods. Local businesses are among those who have been severely impacted on, with the closure coinciding with the crucial Christmas trading period. Business owners have reported reduced footfall, longer delivery routes, higher operating costs and a noticeable downturn in trade. That reinforces how central the bridge is to the economic vitality of Kilrea and its hinterland. <BR /> <BR />There is progress of a kind to report. The main structural repair works to the retaining wall are scheduled to conclude by mid-February, during which time the road will remain closed to heavy goods vehicles.”
“<BR /> <BR />Kilrea Bridge was closed in September 2025, following the discovery of vertical and diagonal cracking in the retaining wall at the south-west end of the structure. Engineers from the Department for Infrastructure concluded that there was a genuine and immediate risk to safety, and the bridge was closed. Since then, the effects of that decision have been felt across the entire community. For residents, the bridge forms part of a vital commuter route, and its closure has forced people to take long detours via Portglenone and Agivey, adding significant time to daily journeys. Local people have voiced strong frustrations, underlining the fact that that crossing is essential for accessing employment, healthcare and key services. Families and schools have also been affected.”
“OK. I thank the Member for bringing the debate to the Chamber. It is timely and apt. <BR /> <BR />I will start with the closure of the Kilrea Bridge, which has had a profound effect on daily lives, on businesses and on the overall well-being of the people in and around Kilrea. Beyond the issue of that immediate disruption, the closure of the bridge has drawn attention to the wider and long-standing challenge of how to maintain historical road infrastructure in a way that safeguards public safety while preserving essential community connectivity. It highlights the delicate balance between conservation, modern engineering and the everyday realities of those who rely on the route as a lifeline rather than as a convenience.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. What specific commitments or agreements, if any, are in place with the Infrastructure Minister on the delivery of reliable, high-capacity EV chargers in rural tourism hotspots?”
“We are talking about funding, so will the Minister provide an update on the Olympic legacy fund that he has rolled out?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, which nearly answers my supplementary question. Does he acknowledge that restoring Lough Neagh will require a more strategic and ambitious approach? Will he commit to extensive afforestation to improve water quality and nutrient catchment in the whole of the lough, including the Bann corridor?”
“<BR /> <BR />I highlight the increase in the number of former Housing Executive properties that are bought by speculators to become private rented accommodation or HMOs. My office is like those of other MLAs in having a massive caseload of constituents seeking housing. However, living in the north coast area exacerbates a problem that exists across Northern Ireland. It does so in a monumental way, forcing the indigenous population out of their community to seek properties elsewhere. <BR /> <BR />I commend our amendment to the House and ask Members to support it.”
“In that context, our call for a review of the house sales scheme is a practical, targeted step. It asks the Minister to examine whether current arrangements unintentionally reduce social stock, weakening the system's capacity to absorb need and, ultimately, contributing to rent inflation. <BR /> <BR />That is not an ideological point; it is a stabilisation measure. It is about ensuring that public housing assets are managed in a way that protects affordability, supports housing security and reduces upward pressure on rents while the Executive work to increase overall supply. However, lack of infrastructure investment sees the construction industry willing and able to build but shackled, through the lack of water, waste water and sewage capacity, in taking projects forward, which further increases strain on the available housing stock.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will speak to our amendment, which is grounded in a simple proposition: if we are serious about stabilising rents and improving affordability, we must address not only the demand pressures in the private rented sector but the policy choices that are steadily shrinking the supply of genuinely affordable homes. <BR /> <BR />In the debate, Members across the House recognised the sharp rise in private rents and the strain that that places on working households, families and those on fixed incomes. Our amendment adds value by connecting the rent crisis to one of its structural drivers: insufficient capital investment in social housing, which pushes more and more people into the private rented sector and intensifies competition for a limited supply.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I believe that a small number of patients in the Northern Trust have had their smear tests re-examined. The Minister is unable to give me the figures, because he does not have them to hand at the moment. Is that a poor reflection of how our hospitals are being managed? Will he undertake a review of how trusts are managing staff and services to ensure equality of opportunity and services across Northern Ireland, not just in urban centres?”
“I thought that you were calling me for a supplementary question. My apologies.”
“What is the process for legally challenging schools if they do not adhere to the guidelines?”
“Mr Speaker, I remind Members that any leader or deputy leader of a political party has no right to address the Assembly. The First Minister therefore addressed the Assembly as First Minister. <BR /> <BR />May I ask the First Minister to provide a statement, including her recollection of the account given by the Sinn Féin Chief Whip to the PSNI or the PPS? If not, would she be willing to do so?”
“Minister, can you allay concerns on the ground that the new accreditation framework will lead to the accreditation of unprofessional and undesirable people, which will undermine the many years of hard work in that field?”
“Raymond Kennedy, Charlie Johnston, Jim McLaughlin, Billy Smallwood, Dessie Bradley, Jackie Morrison, Charlie Ferguson, Jerry Stewart, Trevor Hogg and Ken Lowry were all honoured by Gerry Armstrong, assisted by the north-west league secretary, Jonathan McCunn. <BR /> <BR />Those are the kinds of volunteers and administrators without whom local football simply could not function. The north-west —.”
“<BR /> <BR />The evening was expertly compèred by broadcaster Liam Beckett and featured a lively question-and-answer session with guest of honour, Gerry Armstrong, who will forever be remembered for his winning goal against hosts Spain in the 1982 World Cup. His memories of Spain '82 may have been light-hearted, but they reminded everyone present of the heights that players from this part of the world can reach. <BR /> <BR />A particularly poignant moment came when special presentations were made for long and dedicated service to the North West FA, with many of the recipients also having served on the IFA council.”
“They were joined by Gerard Lawlor, president of the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL), Colin McKendry, vice-chairman of NIFL, and Gregory Campbell MP, underlining the association's political standing as well as its standing in sport. <BR /> <BR />There was also genuine star power from the pitch. Former Northern Ireland internationals Tony O'Doherty and John O'Neill were present, representing the golden thread that runs from the streets and pitches of the north-west to the international stage. Apologies were received from fellow Northern Ireland greats Terry Harkin, Stephen Lomas and Dessie Dickson, whose names rightly drew warm appreciation in the room.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I place on record the outstanding contribution of the North West Football Association, which marked its 140th anniversary with a packed gala dinner at the White Horse Hotel on Friday evening. It was not simply a social occasion; it was a celebration of what is one of the oldest and most influential football bodies anywhere in Northern Ireland and an organisation that has quietly underpinned the game in the north-west for well over a century. <BR /> <BR />The calibre of those in attendance spoke volumes. The Irish FA president, Conrad Kirkwood, led the delegation from Belfast, which was joined by former IFA presidents David Martin, Jim Shaw and Raymond Kennedy, who each have long-standing links to the North West FA council.”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. Does a Minister who undermines public health messaging in the middle of a pandemic meet the standards of accountability and leadership that the public are entitled to expect. If so, how?”
“I will not need it, but thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I agree with the Member, and I thank him for his intervention. I will be supporting the motion and not the amendment.”