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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“For instance, EU Peace funding has been vital to the development of the peace process in the North. It has been an essential resource for the community and voluntary groups that deliver essential services, especially in the most hard-to-reach and disadvantaged areas of our community, and that entire funding must be secured for the future. The Irish presidency of the Council should be used to advocate for keeping that funding included in the European Commission's final budget post 2028. <BR /> <BR />In 2017, as my colleague said, the European Commission stated that, in the event of Irish reunification, the entire territory of Ireland would be reintegrated within the European Union. The Irish presidency of the European Council will present an opportune moment to promote the discussion around Irish unity within the European Union.”
“I agree with the proposer of the motion that Ireland's assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union will present all sorts of political and diplomatic opportunities for the entire island. It can also provide a platform for continuing to navigate the post-Brexit challenges with which we have had to contend. In a previous Assembly motion, we agreed that a sensible approach to managing those post-Brexit challenges would be to establish a European Commission office in Belfast. In the Chamber, we have also agreed to the logic of our having observer status at the European Parliament. That would be another valuable opportunity and means by which to seek to positively influence European policy.”
“Let me be clear: we must not be complicit in Britain's latest Middle Eastern war. We must be a voice for reason, peace and diplomacy. The killings and attacks must stop on all sides. All hostilities must end. There must be de-escalation. The United Nations charter must be paramount. Dialogue, engagement and peaceful coexistence are the only way forward.”
“The US/Israeli actions at the weekend, in starting this war against Iran and across the Middle East, are a flagrant violation of the United Nations charter and international law. Yet again, the multilateral system has been fundamentally damaged. This is the second time in nine months that the United States has mounted a war in the midst of a live negotiation, and, as a result, the Middle East has been taken to the abyss. <BR /> <BR />This war is not a legitimate response to the human rights violations, the lack of democracy and the breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Iran, but the war is set to spiral, with mass killings and mass destruction. It is a mindless act, and the British Government's decision to join the war is equally reckless. The spectres of Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan loom large.”
“Minister, you may have touched on my supplementary question in your response, but I will nevertheless ask it: how will the research take into account the lived experience of those who speak an Ghaeilge”
“Tá deis againn aghaidh a thabhairt ar an éagothroime maoine agus cearta oibrithe anseo sa bhaile. Tabharfar cumhacht dár n-oibrithe le reachtaíocht na ‘bpost maith’, feabhsófar a gcearta cómhargála dá tairbhe, agus cruthófar poist agus coinníollacha is fearr d’oibrithe agus dá dteaghlaigh fosta. <BR /> <BR />Dá bhrí sin, ar Lá Domhanda um Cheartas Sóisialta, athdhearbhaímid ár dtiomantas don neodracht. Caithfimid cur i gcoinne gach cineál ionsaitheachta idirnáisiúnta agus dearbhaímid ár dtiomantas do chomhionannas eacnamaíochta agus do cheartas sóisialta do chách.”
“Tá imshuí mídhleathach na Stát Aontaithe ar Chúba ag cur cruatan ar mhuintir Chúba le blianta fada anuas. Bhain sé faoi fholláine na ndaoine, nó cuireann sé srian leis an rochtain atá acu ar bhia, ar leigheas, ar chumhacht, agus ar bhonneagar riachtanach. Tá sin amhlaidh in ainneoin Cúba a bheith gairthe as tacaíocht leighis a thabhairt ar bhonn idirnáisiúnta. <BR /> <BR />Déantar an ceartas sóisialta a chur ó mhaith nuair a thagann an chumhact in ionad an dlí, nó nuair a chuirtear pionós ar phobail iomlána, amhail san Úcráin, sa Phalaistín, sa Chongó nó sa tSúdáin. Thig le hÉirinn a bheith bródúil as an traidisún neodrachta agus neamh-chomhghuaillíochta atá aici. Caithfidh an neodracht fanacht mar bhunchloch faoi bheartas eachtrach na hÉireann. Ach ní hionann sin is a rá gur chóir dúinn fanacht inár dtost.”
“Cuimhníonn an Lá Domhanda um Cheartas Sóisialta dúinn faoina thábhachtaí atá an tsíocháin dhomhanda, cearta an duine agus an lucht oibre, meas ar an dlí idirnáisiúnta, agus comhionannas eacnamaíochta. Tugtar deis dúinn lena linn ár machnamh a dhéanamh fosta ar a luaithe a chaitear na prionsabail sin i dtrapaisí nuair nach mbíonn srian ar an chumhacht. <BR /> <BR />Ach inniu, tá an t-impiriúlachas, an comhéigean, an caipitleachas neamhrialaithe, an éagothroime eacnamaíochta agus bagairtí ar an cheannasaíocht ag baint faoi phrionsabail an cheartais shóisialta dhomhanda. Tá sin le feiceáil go soiléir sna hionsaithe atá na Stáit Aontaithe a dhéanamh ar Chúba — ionsaithe atá ag gabháil i ndéine i rith an ama. Is finscéal é an t-éileamh gur "bagairt os cionn na coitiantachta" é Cúba.”
“My and residents' concerns about the standard of existing infrastructure are well known to NIW, because we presented them directly to the agency in December 2024. <BR /> <BR />I urge the Minister to support my call for the review to be undertaken as a matter of priority so that, when defects and weaknesses are identified, the remedial works can be programmed without delay.”
“Thank you for that intervention. I agree that we require a holistic and strategic focus, and that that type of approach would be very helpful to everybody in the region. <BR /> <BR />The kind of approach that is being set out is necessary to provide reassurance to local people that they have not been abandoned until the onset of the next flooding incident. They and we — their representatives — need to know that the appropriate agencies have the resources and plans in place to meet their responsibilities and to intervene effectively in case of future increased river levels. The flooding associated with the Sixmilewater has become an issue of public confidence, and there must be a step change on an inter-agency basis. That must include an NIW review of drainage infrastructure, and I am seeking appropriate action in that regard.”
“I welcome the fact that the Minister will invite elected representatives from the area to attend that meeting.”
“I am therefore relieved that operational and communication protocols at Riverside have been reviewed and updated with immediate effect to ensure the strengthening of future operational readiness. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has stated that she welcomes the constructive and robust nature of the meeting hosted by the Riverside and Massereene Street (RAMS) residents' group on 4 February and, as a result, will proceed with a meeting of the regional community resilience group (RCRG) in the coming weeks. I welcome the fact that, in response to my ongoing representations to the Minister, she has agreed to authorise senior officials to meet RAMS in advance to brief on decisions and actions already agreed and to use that engagement to inform the approach of the next meeting of the RCRG.”
“I have explained to the Minister and her officials that there must be a strategic focus on the contributory factors to the swell of the Sixmilewater during exceptional rainfall. Those factors include upstream developments and associated planning decisions; a failure to comply with planning decisions; and the ineffectiveness of the existing drainage infrastructure, particularly in the vicinity of Riverside and Massereene Street. <BR /> <BR />I note the Minister's response to my assertion that there was a complete collapse in the departmental response on the day. I also note that the review that I requested of the failure of the critical response measures that day has been carried out. Immediate action is required to allay residents' genuine fears.”
“On 28 January, the day after storm Chandra, I joined my party colleague and Minister for Infrastructure, Liz Kimmins, on a visit to Riverside to meet residents who were directly impacted. That was an opportunity for the Minister to hear from local people about the pattern of flooding that that community had endured for many years and about their real fears around the prospect of future heavy rain and the potential for river levels to rise again. <BR /> <BR />At that time and since then, through formal correspondence, I have urged the Minister to expedite completion of the flood risk feasibility study, which is scheduled to be concluded in the summer. It is imperative that that report delivers concrete recommendations with the capacity to guarantee the safety of local people and their homes.”
“I begin by acknowledging the hurt caused to the residents of Riverside, Massereene Street and Meadowside in particular and the resilience of those communities. They are little neighbourhoods that border the Sixmilewater. We are looking at them today against the backdrop of the recent devastating flood and the damage that it caused to their properties and neighbourhoods, which are historic neighbourhoods of Antrim town. <BR /> <BR />Regrettably, there is a long history of flooding in those areas. The most recent incident, which was caused by storm Chandra, is the worst flood to have impacted on local residents' homes since the extreme weather event of August 2008.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas le mo chomhghleacaí as an díospóireacht seo a thabhairt chun an Tí inniu.”
“Your Ministry has increasingly become defined as one with a reputation for being hostile to the Irish language, hostile to equality and hostile to the Irish language community and to meetings with it. That is the opposite of what should be expected from your office. Therefore, Minister, will you outline what steps you will take in the remainder of the mandate to rebuild relationships, trust and confidence with the Irish language community in the North?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin.”
“Caithfidh Éire nua a bheith cuimsitheach. Caithfidh gach duine dá gcónaíonn inti a bheith páirteach ina dearadh. Beidh an Ghaeilge lárnach sa tsaol chomhchoiteann atá le teacht. Is cuid dár gcultúr comhchoiteann, í is linn uilig í. Ceanglaíonn sí daoine, ní scarann sí iad. Cuireann sí leis an chiall atá againn dár ndúchas, dár bhféiniúlacht, agus don dáimh atá againn le daoine eile. <BR /> <BR />Mar sin de, guím gach rath ar ard-fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge ag an deireadh seachtaine, agus tá mé ag tnúth le bheith páirteach sna himeachtaí sin. Go gcoinní Conradh na Gaeilge leis ag imirt tionchar ar ról na Gaeilge i dtodhchaí an náisiúin.”
“<BR /> <BR />D’imir Conradh na Gaeilge ról lárnach in athbheochan na teanga ón bhliain 1893 go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Neartaigh a fheachtais agus a dhíograis an Ghaeilge ar fud na hÉireann. Inniu, tá an t-aos óg chun tosaigh ag coinneáil brí agus fuinneamh faoi fhás na teanga. Is é ‘An Ghaeilge in Éirinn Aontaithe: Éire Nua a Thógáil do na Glúnta atá le Teacht’ téama ard-fheis na bliana seo. Is tráthúil tábhachtach an comhrá é, nó tá an mhian chuig Éirinn athaontaithe ag cruinniú nirt ar fud an oileáin.”
“Ba mhaith liom fearadh na fáilte a chur roimh ard-fheis Chonradh na Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste ag deireadh na seachtaine seo chugainn. Is mór againn gur roghnaíodh Béal Feirste le hArd-Fheis na bliana seo a óstáil, nó tá an chathair ar thús cadhnaíochta in athbheochan na Gaeilge. <BR /> <BR />Choinnigh pobail i mBéal Feirste, agus pobail in áiteanna eile sna Sé Chontae, choinnigh sin an teanga beo in ainneoin cruatain, leatroim agus géarleanúna. Thóg muintir na cathrach seo Gaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe. Thóg siad Gaelscoileanna, chruthaigh siad acmhainní agus d’fhorbair siad bonneagar nuair nach raibh a leithéid ann. Tá torthaí an tsaothair sin le feiceáil go soiléir inniu: tá an Ghaeilge faoi bhláth i ngach aon chearn de Bhéal Feirste.”
“We must continue to speak up for the besieged people of Gaza and never allow any world power to undermine that basic right. The British Government now have to fundamentally change their position on the rights of the Palestinian people. They should end their complicity in the illegal occupation of Palestine, the ongoing genocide and the annexation and get on the right side of global humanity and international law.”
“Friday's High Court ruling is hugely significant. It vindicates the position of thousands of activists, including the brave hunger strikers, that highlighting genocide is not a crime. State suppression of the Palestinian solidarity movement has failed in its attempt to silence those exposing Israeli war crimes, which have been aided and abetted by the British state. Instead of pursuing an appeal, the British Government must now lift the ban on Palestine Action without delay and bring their anti-democratic crackdown on Palestinian solidarity activists to an immediate end. The British Government should, with immediate effect, quash the convictions and end the prosecutions of those brought before the courts under that outrageous, draconian and now deemed unlawful legislation. <BR /> <BR />Friday was a positive day for decency and humanity.”
“It is the key to removing the disaster of Brexit, the toxic influence of English politics and the regressive role of every successive British Government in our affairs.”
“Brexit was all about ideological divisions in the Tory party, and Cameron's strategy for seeing that off was to go with the Brexit referendum. <BR /> <BR />In 2017, the European Commission announced that, in the event of a united Ireland, under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, the entire territory of Ireland would be given automatic membership of the EU. Therefore, we have a definitive, automatic and legal route back into the European Union. That can be achieved through full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. We can do better. We must do better for workers and businesses in the North. That is denied to us by the present status quo. Setting a date for a referendum on constitutional change and commencing the transition to a new Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement is the key.”
“Brexit and British Government decision-making will continue to impact negatively on society in the North. English politicians, whether Labour, Tory or Reform, will never act in the interests of citizens here, regardless of our different political allegiances. Therefore, we have a responsibility to open the most practical and pragmatic route to rejoining the EU bloc. That will be in the best interests of our businesses, workers and families. Unsurprisingly, this British Government are not open to that option, because the British Labour Party has allowed itself to become subordinate to the Brexit consequence of the Tory civil war, which was the catalyst for bringing it about. Brexit was never about new economic options or a nirvana.”
“<BR /> <BR />The motion calls on the British Government to commence negotiations with the European Union to establish a UK-EU customs union, but, just a few days ago, the current Labour Administration rejected such a measure despite, as one of the Members who spoke earlier pointed out, positive indications of a willingness on the part of the European Commission to discuss working together on developing a customs union initiative. The apparent British Government unwillingness to engage positively with that option once again highlights the ongoing chaos and contradiction caused by the Brexit disaster, and that will continue to be the case for as long as English politicians retain any influence over the affairs of all citizens in this part of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Brexit is a by-product of partition.”
“That is why we, as I have said in the past, welcomed the Murphy review, which called for the one-stop shop option to help simplify administrative processes for local businesses. Pragmatic and practical proposals have been supported in the Assembly in recent months. For example, Sinn Féin has advocated having a European Commission office in Belfast. That would complement the Murphy recommendation — that is, if the British Government are prepared to support its implementation, and there is a question over that. We have also called for observer status and representation at the European Parliament, and that is with a view to maximising our input to post-Brexit processes on the part of the EU that have an impact on our political, economic and social circumstances here.”
“In the decade since the British Government and DUP's reckless decision to leave the EU, we have all had to grapple with economic uncertainty and political and social instability. Fortunately, the regional economy in the North has been able to rely on protections from the Windsor framework. The regional economy continues to show growth due to the dual market access available through the Windsor framework. That is not to say that our economy has not faced challenges; it has. Businesses have had difficulty navigating the new post-Brexit realities. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin welcomes the attempts by the British Government to reset relations with the European Union, and we encourage the British Government and the EU to adopt every pragmatic measure that will assist in reducing and ending existing trade frictions.”
“I thought that some Members of the Opposition were trying to gazump me and ask my supplementary question, judging by the chuntering in the background. Minister, will you elaborate specifically on the progress that your Department has made in this period?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra.”
“Do you agree that the opening of an EU office in the North would be of assistance in optimising that potential?”
“Minister, you will be aware that the Murphy review states:”
“Does the Member agree that Brexit was a sucker punch, and not only did you walk straight into it, but you stuck your chin out?”
“As I once again said in the Chamber yesterday evening, we must be solution-focused. A resolution to this issue requires engagement by all relevant stakeholders. <BR /> <BR />Our businesses, customers and consumers do not want to hear spurious attempts to conflate issues of post-Brexit fallout with the rhetoric around the loss of sovereignty. Here is a wee reality check, folks: this is not a constitutional crisis. Our businesses, customers and consumers want us to lobby for the removal of that duty. They will want a solution. What is required here is pragmatism, not posturing. At all times, our focus should be on minimising the frictions created by Brexit and maximising the opportunities of our dual market access, not indulging in the politics of Project Fear.”
“The proposed additional charge that the motion references represents an unfair additional burden on customers who are already carrying the pressures of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis. However, the context is the imposition of Brexit, which is the definitive political folly of our times. Of course, the supporters of Brexit were repeatedly told that it would result in predictable and unpredictable adverse consequences, and the charges referenced in the motion are one such example. <BR /> <BR />Brexit has created new customs and trade conditions for the North, which need to be managed. The Windsor framework has protected our businesses from much of the damage caused by Brexit, but it is not a panacea. The issue of duties on parcels is a friction that requires a practical and pragmatic solution.”
“Brexit was an act of self-inflicted economic and social harm. To the DUP and others, you got it wrong, and today it is equally wrong to conflate pragmatic solutions being proposed in a motion such as this with matters of sovereignty and fake news and Project Fear. Ten years on, let us accept the reality that we face and finally start working together to support local businesses. That is why it makes sense to support the motion and collectively endorse the call for the British Government and the European Union in a collegiate way to establish a European Commission office here in this region.”
“Therefore, our collective focus should be on identifying pragmatic and practical solutions to address the challenges that are associated with this post-Brexit context, and that extends to technical issues that our businesses have identified as they navigate the new trade, investment and regulatory arrangements that have been imposed on all of us. The recent Murphy review concluded that having a one-stop shop to simplify administrative processes would be an advantage. I agree. That recommendation should be implemented, and establishing a European Union office in Belfast as a further resource for our businesses and communities is the next logical step to take.”
“While the Windsor framework has protected us from the worst harms of Brexit, our businesses are now asking us to do more to help them to navigate the new trading realities that they have to face.”
“Had the Member allowed me to continue, perhaps he would have been enlightened by what I am about to say. Perhaps he will reflect on what I am about to say. One side of the House wants to reduce the issue — you are one of the people who does it — to zero-sum constitutional issues. You play the alarmist game, and you and others engage directly in fake news. Since its imposition, conversely, Sinn Féin, other parties here, the Irish Government and the EU have collectively sought to mitigate the worst effects of Brexit. Now, the mechanisms exist to do that through the protocol and the Windsor framework. <BR /> <BR />While the regional economy continues to grow because of — yes, hear this — dual market access, our businesses have identified challenges brought about by Brexit. That is an inevitable consequence of the harm that was caused.”
“It is, frankly, bizarre that the DUP and other Brexit cheerleaders, who were cautioned at the time about the predictable damage that its onset would cause for businesses, workers and families, continue now to resist any practical solution that would mitigate the harm that Brexit has done. All of that has been reflected in the debate this evening. The only thing that is worse than missing the point is to deliberately miss the point. This is not about symbolism; it is about being pragmatic and solution-focused. <BR /> <BR />Other contributors have correctly reminded us this evening that we once had a European Commission office in Belfast. Having another office is about access. It is about bringing added value to how we collectively address the development of mitigations to deal with the frictions that have flowed as a consequence of Brexit.”
“It is an established matter of fact that Brexit has been an economic, social and political disaster for citizens and businesses here and even in Britain. Yes, Britain got Brexit, and now its economy is tanking. It is also a fact, however, that the North was pulled out of the European Union against the wishes of the majority of voters in this region. That is also the position that is held by the greater majority of Members of the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />Every party in the Assembly acknowledges that Brexit has also created a democratic deficit. I have said previously that the difference, of course, is in how we define and address the nature of that deficit.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.”
“Minister, workers and their families in this society continue to be punished by the cost-of-living crisis. Do you agree that public-sector workers should be prioritised in relation to pay settlements going forward?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a ráiteas a chur i láthair.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is notable that the illegal removal of the Venezuelan president from office by the US sits in marked contrast with the American Administration's defiance of the International Criminal Court arrest warrants in the names of Israeli political leaders, which were issued for genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people. <BR /> <BR />During the past 12 months, there has been an unprecedented undermining of the multilateral system. International law must be defended and enforced. There is no legitimate or legal alternative to respect for national sovereignty, the use of diplomacy and peaceful coexistence, so the aggression must be unambiguously condemned. What is now required is an urgent de-escalation of political tensions in Venezuela and the establishment of regional political stability and security.”
“The US assault against Venezuelan national sovereignty has serious and far-reaching repercussions for the primacy of international law and the authority of the United Nations charter. That act of US military aggression is deeply destabilising for Venezuela as well as the wider Latin American and Caribbean region. It comes at a time when the illegal embargo against Cuba has intensified and the American president is threatening more unilateral military attacks in the Middle East while repeating his threats against the sovereignty of Greenland.”
“In my book, whatever happens this Saturday in Croke Park, the Moneyglass women are already winners. The footballers will travel to Croke Park as pride of the parish, queens of the county and champions of Ulster. Those girls are a credit to their families, their friends and all of us, and I wish them all the luck that they deserve in the All-Ireland final this Saturday. Give it your all, girls. Leave it all on the pitch. Ádh mór oraibh. Tapaigí an deis. An Muine Glas abú.”
“That is reflected in the men's footballers' participation and score and in underage development for young boys and girls. However, ladies Gaelic football is one of the club's huge successes. The club has enjoyed great progress in recent times. New facilities have been opened on Loughbeg Road. The men won the 2025 Intermediate Club football final. Furthermore, the club has elected its first female chairperson, Sarah McCann. In a special, personal first for Sarah, in the past few weeks, she qualified with a doctorate in education, specialising in climate change and sustainability. <BR /> <BR />The crowning glory of 2025, however, will be this weekend's All-Ireland Club final. Not surprisingly, local excitement is at fever pitch. Everybody is up to high doh.”
“Where is Moneyglass? That is the question on the lips of many sports journalists in the aftermath of the Moneyglass senior ladies footballers' winning their All-Ireland semi-final nine days ago. Well, Moneyglass is a cluster of townlands in the south-west of County Antrim, beside the River Bann and adjacent to Lough Beg. It is a small place with just a few hundred residents. There is Boyd's garage and shop; Tumbledown bar; one chapel; a small community centre; and a large number of small family businesses and farms. <BR /> <BR />The beating heart of Moneyglass is St Ergnats GAC. Formed in 1948, the club has a strong tradition in an Cumann Lúthchleas Gael”