Declan Kearney
South Antrim · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“The 'good jobs' Bill is designed to benefit every single worker across this society, regardless of background. It is not anti-business. It is about growing economic productivity and enhancing employment and workers' rights.”
“The rhetoric around proper scrutiny is a complete red herring; it is an attempt by the DUP to run down the clock in relation to the mandate. Why is that? What is the DUP afraid of? Why is it vetoing the 'good jobs' Bill?”
“The fallout from Brexit is a reality that is being felt hard by workers and families across the North daily, and that is illustrated in evidence sessions that we have received in the Economy Committee. In one, we learned that our electricity bills here are now higher as a result of Brexit.”
“Catastrophic, kamikaze economics, politically toxic — there is no other way to describe the Brexit debacle. Yet, 10 years on, those in the Chamber who continue to cheerlead are burying their heads in the sand.”
“The fact is that Brexit has brought a positive focus to the democratic logic of self-determination and constitutional change in Ireland. There is a way to remove the negative and enduring legacy of Brexit. Irish unity provides that option. Therefore, it is time to widen participation in the debate.”
“Minister, do you agree that the discrimination in employment and the political vetting that have been practised in this state for so long, and actively supported by some Members, have no place in today's society, and that appointment to government boards should be open to all sections of society, including such citizens as Peter Lynch?”
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“The rhetoric around proper scrutiny is a complete red herring; it is an attempt by the DUP to run down the clock in relation to the mandate. Why is that? What is the DUP afraid of? Why is it vetoing the 'good jobs' Bill? Is it that the DUP is anti-trade union or anti-workers' rights, or is it just because transformative legislation is being brought forward by a Sinn Féin Economy Minister? Those are the questions that the DUP has to answer. <BR /> <BR />For our part, Sinn Féin will continue to progress the legislation. Workers' rights delayed are workers' rights denied.”
“The 'good jobs' Bill is designed to benefit every single worker across this society, regardless of background. It is not anti-business. It is about growing economic productivity and enhancing employment and workers' rights. It is obvious that that transformative legislation is being blocked by the DUP while it continues to thwart the work of the power-sharing Executive and the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />For its own political reasons, the DUP is willing to deny the challenges faced by vulnerable workers and those who are responsible for looking after members of their own families. The DUP's blockage of the 'good jobs' Bill is a dereliction of political responsibility. It ignores the potential for the Bill to benefit the lives of even its own voters.”
“The fact is that Brexit has brought a positive focus to the democratic logic of self-determination and constitutional change in Ireland. There is a way to remove the negative and enduring legacy of Brexit. Irish unity provides that option. Therefore, it is time to widen participation in the debate. The term of Ireland's presidency of the European Council provides an important opportunity to do so. The Irish and British Governments should begin planning for the constitutional change that will reunite this country and create a pathway back into the European Union for us all.”
“The fallout from Brexit is a reality that is being felt hard by workers and families across the North daily, and that is illustrated in evidence sessions that we have received in the Economy Committee. In one, we learned that our electricity bills here are now higher as a result of Brexit. In another, we heard that one skills programme had lost £40 million of investment in a year due to the loss of European funding. <BR /> <BR />Brexit has also poisoned our political process. It has destabilised power-sharing and created a deep political fault line. However, Brexit has also been a political game changer. More and more citizens are now looking beyond the catastrophe of Brexit and the chaotic Westminster politics that brought it about.”
“Catastrophic, kamikaze economics, politically toxic — there is no other way to describe the Brexit debacle. Yet, 10 years on, those in the Chamber who continue to cheerlead are burying their heads in the sand. They tell us that they have not yet got the Brexit they wanted: I can only assume that means that it is not enough of an unmitigated disaster for them. <BR /> <BR />Last week, the London School of Economics was emphatic. It said that there is now conclusive evidence that Brexit has been an economic failure. I and others predicted in 2015 that that would be the case, and the greater number of citizens agreed with us. Now there is even greater opposition to our exclusion from the European Union.”
“I note the Minister's comments and take them on board. Does the Minister agree that handing over £150,000 to English consultants is not an intelligent use of his limited departmental financial resources?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra sin.”
“Minister, do you agree that the discrimination in employment and the political vetting that have been practised in this state for so long, and actively supported by some Members, have no place in today's society, and that appointment to government boards should be open to all sections of society, including such citizens as Peter Lynch?”
“I thank the Minister for that response. It is an area of road safety, including rural road safety, that is within our control and in which improvements can be delivered in a very tangible way at low cost. Minister, when will that very important legislation be introduced to the Assembly so that we can expedite its passage?”
“Minister, you will be aware that the reopening of the Knockmore to Antrim line is effectively a cross-party priority, supported by all elected representatives in the constituency. It also commands a significant interest from an economic, commercial, business and community standpoint in South Antrim. Your news today is positive and helpful. However, can you specifically tell us what progress has been made on the proposed new halts from Knockmore to Antrim?”
“Minister, that is fantastic news for the east Derry, north Derry and north Antrim region. Can you give us some sense of whether the growth deal has set out projections in relation to employment generation, overall regeneration and the benefits that will accrue to the local population in that part of the North?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra.”
“It is welcome to hear about your proactivity with the British and Irish Governments to try to redress the anomaly. You will be aware that Sinn Féin introduced a Bill in Dáil Éireann to address geoblocking: will you give us an assessment of that Bill?”
“Tá sé thar am baghcat, dífheistiú agus smachtbhannaí cuimsitheacha a chur i bhfeidhm.”
“<BR /> <BR />Go spreaga comóradh seo an Nakba an pobal idirnáisiúnta é féin a eagrú i gcoinne coireanna Iosrael in aghaidh na daonnachta. Ná cuirimis fiacail ann. Tá forghabháil Iosrael agus a ghníomhartha ag sárú an dlí idirnáisiúnta. D’eisigh an Chúirt Choiriúil Idirnáisiúnta barántais ghabhála ar Benjamin Netanyahu agus ar dhaoine eile ag cur coireanna cogaidh agus coireanna in aghaidh na daonnachta ina leith. Thoiligh an tAontas Eorpach an tseachtain seo a chuaigh thart smachtbhannaí a chur ar lonnaitheoirí mídhleathacha i ndiaidh blianta de bhrú ón phobal agus ó pholaiteoirí. Ach caithfidh an tAontas Eorpach níos mó a dhéanamh. Caithfidh sé Iosrael a leithlisiú go hiomlán. Caithfear trádbhaic arm a chur i bhfeidhm. Ba cheart deireadh a chur leis an chomhaontú comhlachais idir an tAontas Eorpach agus Iosrael.”
“Rinne Palaistínigh ar fud an domhain an Nakba a chomóradh Dé Aoine seo a chuaigh thart. Is "Nakba" an focal Araibise ar "thubaiste". Is mar sin a chuireann na Palaistínigh síos ar an ghlanadh eitneach a rinneadh orthu óna dtír féin sa bhliain 1948. Sa tréimhse sin cuireadh níos mó ná 750,000 duine as seilbh agus maraíodh níos mó ná 15,000 Palaistíneach. Baintear úsáid as an fhocal Nakba inniu le cur síos ar an díláithriú agus ar an ghéarleanúint atáthar a dhéanamh ar mhuintir na Palaistíne faoi láthair. Ó bunaíodh stát Iosrael sa bhliain 1948, tá lonnaíochtaí mídhleathacha Iosraelacha á leathnú gan stad gan staonadh ar an Bhruach Thiar. Tá Gaza scriosta, agus tá a mhuintir faoi chinedhíothú agus faoi ghlanadh eitneach leanúnach.”
“In reality, there is a momentum in the discussion around constitutional change that is organic and spontaneous. It is happening everywhere. On every street corner, on the side of every football pitch and in the shops and bars, people are talking about change. The fact is that we are living through a historic period of momentous change, so let us positively engage with the challenges that that presents. The opportunities are huge. Self-determination gives us all a way forward to national reunification and national reconciliation and to securing a new constitutional settlement in all our interests that is built on equality, inclusion, cultural diversity, pluralism and anti-sectarianism.”
“Irish unity should not be feared. It is an opportunity to shape a new constitutional settlement that guarantees the identities, traditions, religious and civil and democratic rights of all citizens.”
“In 2024, an all-party Oireachtas Joint Committee called on the Irish Government to begin that process immediately, and the Irish Government should do so. They should demonstrate the leadership that is now required and formally engage the British Government on developing a process of structured constitutional transition, and they should establish a citizens' assembly on constitutional change and begin work on drafting a Green Paper.”
“<BR /> <BR />Political unionism also needs to recognise that change is indeed fixed on the political horizon and no amount of denial will change that reality. Partition has not worked, and it never will. We need a serious discussion about how future change should be managed. Successive polls demonstrate growing desire across the island for constitutional change, reunification and rejoining the EU. The right to a unity referendum is set out under our Good Friday Agreement, and, 28 years from that agreement's having been signed, there is no longer any justification for refusing to set a date. The need to plan and prepare for Irish unity is a matter of established political consensus among the majority of parties across the island.”
“English politicians, whether Labour, Tory or Reform, simply do not care about the citizens who live here. That realisation is increasingly shared in Wales and Scotland. The choice is clear: more Westminster political chaos, austerity, ongoing isolation from the European Union and the rise of far-right Reform politics or the alternative that lies in self-determination and new constitutional arrangements. Irish unity is not inevitable, but it is more possible now than at any stage before. The British Government should take their heads out of the sand and accept that the status quo has failed. It is time for British policy towards this place to change. A similar challenge now arises for the British Government with regard to Scotland and Wales.”
“The recent election results in England, Scotland and Wales represent really significant political change in the landscape of those countries. The surge in electoral support for progressive politics and self-determination, as well as support for extreme right-wing populism, should be a wake-up call for the British Government. The fallout from Brexit continues to cast a long shadow, but politics is realigning. That is reflected in the unprecedented political support for Plaid Cymru, the remarkable return for a fifth successive Administration of the Scottish National Party and the levels of popular support that Sinn Féin continues to hold in Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Increasing numbers of citizens in Wales and Scotland and in the North of Ireland recognise that Westminster will never serve our interests.”
“Multiple well-meaning businesses and households have been hurt by that travesty. The current Minister for the Economy has allocated £196 million for compensation and closure payments over the next 10 years to assist those who participated in the RHI scheme in good faith. <BR /> <BR />Ultimately, the DUP's RHI debacle is set to cost the taxpayer approximately £1 billion. Just weeks ago in the Assembly, during a debate on a Bill that was brought forward by my colleague Danny Baker, we listened to the Education Minister and his party colleagues lecture us all on fiscal responsibility as we discussed feeding hungry children. Against the backdrop of RHI, the hypocrisy of DUP posturing when it comes to helping the most needy and vulnerable in our society is lost on no one — even, I would hazard, those in its electoral base.”
“However, despite warnings from numerous whistle-blowers, RHI was allowed to run on, costing £500 million of taxpayers' money. It created a black hole in our regional economy, which overlapped with the onset of Tory austerity here. That DUP-induced financial scandal provoked systemic political instability in our political institutions from which we have arguably never recovered. <BR /> <BR />At the same time, marriage equality rights, women's reproductive rights and Irish language rights were being blocked by the DUP. The Brexit catastrophe quickly followed. Today, the DUP is still content to take a wrecking ball to our political institutions in order to slow down change and combat intra-unionist electoral rivalry. Its cash-for-ash scheme is a monument to arrogance in government.”
“Some 10 years after the spectacular DUP mismanagement of and arrogance about the RHI scheme, which led directly to the collapse of these political institutions, that scheme is finally set to close. The RHI scheme should have been a positive and constructive green energy initiative that contributed to decarbonisation and our overall renewable energy strategy. Instead, it descended into financial scandal. The gross mismanagement that was presided over by former DUP leader Arlene Foster, who was then a DUP Minister, brought the entire scheme into abject disrepute. It took a public inquiry, which cost the taxpayer £13 million, to confirm that the problems with the administration of the scheme were already apparent by 2015.”
“Minister, I fully endorse what you said about the achievement of the fund in getting £30 million of investment into communities, benefiting 950 projects. Can you be more specific and give us a precise time frame within which we will know which projects' applications for 2026-27 have been successful?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an leasChéad-Aire as ucht a freagra.”
“<BR /> <BR />A new chapter has opened up for the young people, and the not so young, of that small rural community. Future generations now have their field of dreams. Everything about Cumann Lúthchleas Gael is future-focused on our youth and new generations. It is where we all belong, and that is the mission of Kickhams GAC.”
“, Jarlath Burns, spoke about the ethos and vision of the club. He could have attended the Connacht and Munster football finals, but instead chose to come to Creggan. <BR /> <BR />Yesterday marked the start of a new phase in the club's history. Five generations and hundreds of members, supporters and players gathered for the occasion. The sense of achievement was absolutely palpable. Yesterday Creggan oozed a sense of ambition. Terry Robb, the club chairperson, put it really well when he said, "We have not come this far just to get this far. The new pitch and gym facilities are achievements which bow to the past. A new horizon exists now because we all stand on the shoulders of giants". The new facilities will be a catalyst to secure and inspire the future of Gaelic games in Creggan, and even greater success, I am sure.”
“Yesterday, more history was made with the opening of the new £1·2 million facilities, including another new pitch, a gym and a shop. All that was also achieved through fundraising, sponsorship and sheer hard work by local people. The day-long programme of celebrations was absolutely fantastic. Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael”
“In the 10 miles or so between Antrim town and Moneyglass, there are five Gaelic Athletic Association clubs, and all have won county titles. South-west Antrim is central to GAA life in County Antrim, and one of its beating hearts is Kickhams GAC. The club was founded 102 years ago. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength. All Gaelic games are played at all levels in the club. It has won county titles in all four codes, and, like hundreds of others, I have fond memories of playing football and hurling on McAteer's Field. Back in the day, club facilities were a green tin hut. Then, over 40 years ago, the big hall was built, and 20 years ago, a new pitch, pavilion and Astroturf pitch were put in place, all of which were funded and built by the local community.”
“That is unfortunate, because, if it had not done so, we might have avoided the amendments to the motion and removed some of the edge from the discussion. Our immediate collective focus must be on pressing for a change in British Government policy on that priority funding. <BR /> <BR />Once again, the challenge that has been presented to us brings centre stage the failure of existing constitutional arrangements. It underlines why Irish unity and rejoining the European Union provide the only realistic prospect of sustainably meeting the needs of all our citizens.”
“The proposed cut in funding will also result in well over 400 front-line job losses across various services and groups. <BR /> <BR />While it is essential that we highlight those disastrous consequences, the SDLP motion plumbs the depths of political cynicism by trying to attribute to the Executive responsibility for the crisis in our community and voluntary sector. Perhaps deflection from the British Government's neglect of and contempt for this place and people here is the SDLP's new big idea, or maybe it is just another disguise for its failure to influence the British Government's decisions while it sits on the British Labour Party Benches at Westminster, where the decisions are being made. Whatever the truth, the SDLP has, characteristically and once again, got the wrong end of the stick.”
“The loss of funding that we are debating will have the most — the worst — impact on our most vulnerable communities. It will impact on the youth employment services that provide vital support for people seeking education, training and employment. It will disenfranchise disabled people who rely on specialist employment supports at a time when we have a skills shortage in our economy. It will impact on community-based mental health and well-being services that provide some mitigations for an already stretched and underfunded health service. <BR /> <BR />As others have commented, our third sector has become integral to the delivery of public services when those services break down here. Action Mental Health estimates that it will no longer be able to help 900 people who have accessed its services.”
“At the same time, as fuel and energy prices soar for ordinary consumers, British Government policy allows big oil conglomerates to continue to generate unprecedented profits.”
“There is no getting away from the reality that although the British Government can choose to increase by £13·4 billion between now and 2028 military spending on weapons of mass destruction and a war economy, they claim that they have nothing more to invest in community resilience and locally-led services here.”
“I agree with those who pointed out that that is an ill-conceived model, which again demonstrates that the British Government neither understand nor care about the uniqueness of this place. <BR /> <BR />As he outlined, the Minister has addressed the need for a bespoke arrangement in the North. However, that has simply been dismissed. Decisions taken in Westminster will rarely be taken in the interests of our region and that is underlined by the institutionalised resistance to developing the sustainable public funding model that we require for the region. The current Labour Government have instead continued with the same negative economic and political policy approach that they inherited from the Tories.”
“Repeated warnings about what Brexit would mean to us here in the North were scoffed at by the DUP and their fellow Brexiteers. It is not for the first or the last time that we are debating one of the consequences of that disastrous decision. <BR /> <BR />Predictably the British Government have now reneged on their promise to replace that lost EU funding. As a result, as other Members have said, the community and voluntary sector, on which so many rely in our society for services and employment, including in some of our most disadvantaged areas, has been left to carry the brunt. As colleagues have said this evening, the local growth fund reduced day-to-day funding from £25 million to £9·2 million per annum from April this year. The British Government have designed a scheme, which is based on a 70:30 capital/resource split.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“Today is Workers' Memorial Day, and, this weekend, the trade union movement will celebrate International Workers' Day. The North remains a low-wage economy. Minister, based on what you have just said, how will you seek to prioritise in the coming period the absolute imperative of ensuring that all public-sector organisations commit to becoming living wage employers on a fully accredited basis?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra.”
“Minister, in light of the current global insecurity, the horizon scanning that you have said has been undertaken by your officials and the consultations that have been carried out, can you outline specifically what supports are being developed to assist high-intensity energy manufacturing businesses?”
“Notwithstanding the comments of the Member who spoke earlier, it juxtaposes one part of our regional economy against another, when both are absolutely essential. The climate action that the DUP has already agreed to and infrastructure development are both possible. Working families need clean air and waterways, and we must also have roads and rail, and the future growth of our regional economy and the environmental demands mean that we must make progress in both areas.”
“The need for investment in sustainable green energy strategies, including green skills, and all-island renewable projects, including offshore wind, has rarely, if ever, been more urgent. The DUP chooses to pay lip service to the deepening cost-of-living crisis while, at the same time, it stands on the sidelines, warmongering about what is happening in the Middle East. The global instability caused by this latest war is exacerbating the cost-of-living pressures, and it is adding to the distress of those who are already struggling with the inability to pay for their heating and to fuel their vehicles. <BR /> <BR />This is a bizarre motion from the DUP. It is, at best, defeatist and lacks ambition, if it is not outrightly cynical.”
“. <BR /> <BR />There is no better man to revise history than you, Jonathan. The point is that we need to move forward on the basis of the just transition principles. That is the ground that the DUP needs to get on to. <BR /> <BR />Months out before this summer, we are already facing another stark reminder of the catastrophic threat to the biodiversity and ecological well-being of Lough Neagh. The livelihoods of brown eel fishermen, the commercial fishing industry and all forms of economic activity along the lough shore are being devastated. With regard Lough Neagh, let me say this: worse is still to come. <BR /> <BR />The current geopolitical and economic crisis caused by the US attacks on Iran have now brought into sharp focus the unsustainability of our dependence on fossil fuels.”
“There is no better man to revise history than you, Jonathan.”
“So said the former leader of the DUP and then DUP Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, when he welcomed the 2022 Climate Change Bill. Indeed, he went on to laud the passing of the Bill as "an historic moment". <BR /> <BR />The advice from the experts and the extensive scientific evidence on climate change are at least the same in 2026 as they were in 2022. We must meet net zero targets, protect our environment and proactively tackle the climate change challenges that we face. Is it the case that, with this motion, the DUP has done a U-turn and is now announcing its return to archaic climate change denial? Denial and inaction are not an option.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.”
“At this time, we need political consensus in the Assembly on calling on the European Union, the British Government and the Irish Government to remain fully committed to funding the post-2028 period and to helping us to open up the next phase of our peace process, which should be based on national reconciliation and reunification.”
“The peace and political processes are, as we know, still works in progress, but the wrecker's agenda pursued by some in the Assembly and the incessant attempts to disrupt political stability in the North by raking up our past political conflict illustrate that reality. <BR /> <BR />Now is not the time to cut programmes that have been central to the transformation that we have all enjoyed. At a time when the world is increasingly threatened by war and geopolitical instability and even the European Union is increasingly moving towards increased militarisation, investing in peace must take precedence over funding war. It is imperative that we send a united voice from the Assembly to those in the European Commission and Parliament who will be paying attention to this evening's debate about the importance of continuing full PEACE PLUS funding.”