Alan Chambers
North Down · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />A relatively recent piece of important character that was added to the village some years ago was the addition of a number of trees along Main Street.”
“It is my pleasure and privilege to present a petition signed by more than 1,500 people calling on the Department for Infrastructure to drop plans to chop down a number of mature street trees in Main Street, Groomsport. <BR /> <BR />Groomsport is a beautiful village with a strong community spirit.”
“Indeed, in the past week, it has been adjudged to be the best-kept town on the island of Ireland. It has many outstanding characteristics, including three lovely beaches with clean and pollution-free bathing water; a well-sheltered harbour that is reputed to have been first constructed by the Vikings; a modern children's playground; and t…”
“Minister, I sent a question for written answer in May 2025. You told me that your officials had identified a problem on the A48 in November 2024 and that a works order had been issued.”
“The Department's approach to the problem, however, has been to fire up the chainsaws. That is a shameful and unacceptably lazy plan. There are many engineering solutions that do not involve such crude environmental vandalism. Government policy, rather than to chop down healthy mature specimens, is to encourage more tree planting.”
“For many, the ability to start or grow a family is a major priority; for others, it is not a priority at all. When fertility problems stand in the way of that dream, the emotional toll can be immense. There has already been reference to the commitment in NDNA, which was one reason why my party very much welcomed that agreement.”
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“There is no doubt that the proposals for the Birch Hill mental health inpatient centre are ambitious, but they are also undoubtedly necessary. Whilst the staff working from the Holywell Hospital and the Ross Thomson unit continue to provide a brilliant service, they do so from facilities that, frankly, have not kept pace with modern requirements. We have heard some of the problems articulated tonight. <BR /> <BR />The scheme proposed for Birch Hill, a new 134-bed unit serving needs ranging from acute mental illness to dementia care and psychiatric intensive care, would also really helpfully bring together a range of services that has long been stretched across ageing facilities. <BR /> <BR />I suspect that there will be political unanimity this evening on the call for the scheme to be progressed.”
“The idea was to publish it earlier this year, but, as the Minister has rightly said, he wanted much more than a plan for a plan's sake, so it was the right thing to do to take time to get it right and, importantly, to gain support from the wider research community. <BR /> <BR />This is an important debate on an important issue. Progress is being made, but we can all see that there is still much to do. I place on record our appreciation and thanks to all the medical staff who provide care and comfort to people who are suffering from this insidious disease.”
“The expansion of CT and MRI capacity, not just at the RDCs but at other acute sites, is also helping to reduce some of the longest waits on record. <BR /> <BR />There was a decision earlier this year to move to a regional breast assessment list. Whilst it was never going to be easy, it was still the right thing to do. Waiting times for breast assessment, which rightly concerned us at the end of the summer, are now beginning to show significant improvement. Importantly, the new approach has ended the wholly intolerable postcode lottery for patients, including for my constituents in the South Eastern Trust area, who had previously faced some of the longest waits. <BR /> <BR />The motion understandably references the cancer research strategy.”
“<BR /> <BR />I very much welcome the elective care framework and the implementation plan that has directed substantial funding of £85 million into red-flag and time-critical care. That is evidence of a system that is trying within its constraints to do what is right. The targeted investments in endoscopy, diagnostics, systemic anti-cancer therapy and cancer nursing capacity are all steps in the right direction. As the most recent published reports show, those focused investments are beginning to have a real impact. Waiting lists for endoscopy have been reduced dramatically. Rapid diagnostic centres (RDCs) are streamlining care for patients whose symptoms do not point clearly to one cancer type but whose need for swift assessment is no less urgent.”
“The Minister has often acknowledged, and will likely and rightly do so again today, that too many people are waiting beyond the targets and far beyond what any of us would be willing to tolerate. Whilst that is undoubtedly the case, it is important that we look at the broader data. Thankfully, our outcomes suggest that, on the whole, patients still receive the high quality of care and treatments that they require. That is important for us to emphasise, because patients and their families deserve encouragement and hope. Of course, every delay is one too many, not least because early treatment saves lives, as does early diagnosis. Removing avoidable delays can literally save lives.”
“No matter where patients may live in Northern Ireland, they should have equitable and timely access to world-class cancer referral, diagnosis, treatment and person-centred care. That is not an aspiration; it is a necessity. As has so often been discussed in the Chamber, however, we must also be honest with ourselves. The gap between the strategy's ambition and the available resources is significant. The strategy anticipated recurring funding approaching £55 million by year 4 and rising further over the decade. Today, the Minister is working with just over £10 million. It is a credit to our healthcare staff that good progress has been made in such trying circumstances. <BR /> <BR />Cancer waiting times in particular must be addressed with a renewed sense of urgency.”
“Few issues that are brought before the House carry the same priority or urgency as cancer care. Cancer is a disease that can thrive in a vacuum. That is why every possible step should be taken to stamp down on avoidable delays in diagnosis. As has been said, every postponed treatment represents not just a statistic but a person, so it is for them that we must approach this discussion with the seriousness and focus that it deserves. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge the work that is under way not just in the Department but across the senior clinical leadership on not just sustaining but improving cancer services. The cancer strategy is something that every Member should get behind.”
“I know that the Minister shares my concern that Belfast lough has the potential to become the new Lough Neagh in the next 10 years. What is the Minister doing to ensure that the Executive take measures to avoid an environmental disaster similar to that in Lough Neagh?”
“They all make a significant contribution to the democratic process, and I am sure that all Members will agree with me when I say that we value their commitment and support. <BR /> <BR />In coming to its conclusions, the Committee was mindful not only of the difficult wider public expenditure position but of the need for a sufficiently resourced Assembly. The Committee was therefore content to agree the Commission's proposed budget with only minor changes, as I have outlined. The Committee looks forward to working with the Commission on its expenditure against plans for the remainder of the mandate.”
“The Committee emphasises, however, that, in the unlikely event that a bid to Treasury to cover the shortfall is not met, a solution will need to be found. It will be essential to ensure that that Committee has the resources that it needs to perform its functions effectively. <BR /> <BR />The Committee was content with the proposed capital expenditure plans. It noted the Department of Finance's comments around the expected costs and timing and will monitor those closely as part of its normal financial scrutiny process. The figures agreed by the Audit Committee and set out at page 12 of its report have been submitted to the Department of Finance for inclusion in the Executive's draft Budget for 2026 to 2029-2030. <BR /> <BR />Before closing, I record the Committee's appreciation of the Assembly staff throughout the Building.”
“The Committee considered the proposed new posts carefully, noted the analysis provided by the Commission that compared Assembly staff numbers with those of other legislatures and was content with the proposals. Overall, the Committee was content that the proposed total staff and administration costs were appropriate and critical to the delivery of the Commission's corporate strategy. <BR /> <BR />I will move on to ring-fenced funding for costs associated with the operation of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee. The Audit Committee adjusted the proposed figures down slightly, on the advice of the Department of Finance, to reflect what has been confirmed by His Majesty's Treasury in relation to those costs.”
“Those budget elements are determination-driven and are not under the Commission's control. The Committee therefore agreed that it was content with the proposed costs for Members but noted that they may be subject to change when the new Independent Remuneration Board reports. The Committee also noted that there is a degree of uncertainty around the Commission's forecasts for Members' pensions due to factors outside its control. <BR /> <BR />During the recent evidence sessions with Commission officials, the Committee covered all aspects of the proposed budget for the period. However, certain issues were explored in more detail. They included the Department of Finance's comments on how critical it was to create eight additional secretariat posts.”
“To reflect the Assembly's constitutional independence from the Executive, the Audit Committee has a role in the scrutiny of the Commission's draft budget, an informal methodology that was introduced in 2016 similar to that adopted by the Audit Committee in agreeing the Estimates for the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) and Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO). It will be important for the Committee to review how the informal arrangements relating to the Commission's budget are working so that they may be updated and formalised before the end of the mandate. <BR /> <BR />As Members will be aware, the Commission has a legal requirement to meet Members' costs, including salaries, allowances, expenses, Members' staffing costs and pension contributions.”
“In the coming weeks, our hospitals are likely to focus even more on freeing up capacity currently occupied by those who are medically fit to go home. As MLAs, we all have a responsibility when engaging with local families. That means constructive engagement, not headlines. We must also be mindful of those who stand on the sidelines offering commentary but no solutions — the hurlers on the ditch. It is easy to criticise but much harder to negotiate and deliver. The Minister did the hard work, and the results speak for themselves. <BR /> <BR />I commend the Minister for securing on pay what all other parties said that they wanted to deliver but spent many months actively choosing not to.”
“<BR /> <BR />The publication of the strategic preparedness plan has been helpful, but the Minister probably agrees with me that even more important is the planning and work under way in individual trusts and their planning documents. Good progress has already been made in reducing ambulance handover delays. <BR /> <BR />As we know, this winter, like all winters, will be difficult, and a report is coming out about a strain of flu that is circulating. If that comes to fruition here, it will make the situation even more challenging. For the weeks and months before us, the message must be one of stability and shared purpose. With pay parity delivered, the Executive and Assembly must support the Minister in helping the system to help as many patients as possible.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our healthcare workforce have endured years of strain winter after winter and crisis after crisis. As MLAs, I trust that we can all recognise that pay parity is not a reward but a basic recognition of the value of their work. It is a cross-party Executive commitment that parity should be maintained. The agreement secured by the Minister last week is therefore not simply about remuneration but about safeguarding the future of our health and social care service. While it will not be easy, I particularly welcome the indication that, instead of staff having to wait into the year for their annual uplift, the Minister expects that he will be able to offer some degree of immediate uplift at the start of the financial year next April.”
“I welcome last week's announcement on pay parity. The motion refers to the uncertainty that has surrounded pay for our health and social care staff and the knock-on effect that that has had on planning and morale in the service. However, we now have clarity and certainty for those staff, so I want to take a moment to acknowledge the work of Mike Nesbitt, the Minister of Health. From the day that he took office, the Minister made clear that pay parity was not optional but essential. He also did the right thing earlier this year when he said that he was committed to honouring the pay awards. The fact that we are in a position where the Executive have, at long last, agreed to the request that the Health Minister made six months ago to deliver parity is hugely welcome, but it is also tinged with some frustration that it took so long.”
“Given that pay issues may have a negative effect on police morale and, possibly, on police recruitment, what is the Minister's assessment of whether 7,000 police officers by 2027 be achieved?”
“That has proved to be a calming oasis for dementia patients and their families. The plants have not reached full maturity, but, next year, they will. I certainly welcome that facility.”
“They provide a breathing space, offer a much better environment for a young person and allow them to receive care with minimised distress. While there is provision for such spaces across the health estate, there is a shortfall at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. I know from engaging with the Department on the matter that the Belfast Trust has been seeking to identify the necessary space adjacent to the paediatric emergency department to create a dedicated sensory room in the near future. That is a really positive step. I am hopeful that that shortage in provision can soon be resolved. <BR /> <BR />I beg your indulgence, Mr Deputy Speaker, to highlight a development in Bangor, albeit that it is aimed at a different cohort. The council recently opened a dementia-friendly sensory garden in Ward Park.”
“I certainly welcome this extremely important debate. I also welcome the broad cross-party recognition of the growing and well-documented value that sensory rooms and sensory pods can bring to healthcare settings. As MLAs, we often have people coming to our constituency offices to relay their experiences of the health service. That includes families who sometimes face the sensory challenge of a busy hospital environment. For any child, hospitals can be a strange and overwhelming environment, but, for children who are neurodiverse or live with sensory processing difficulties, it can be an even greater challenge. Any family with such a child will know how quickly distress can escalate when the environment feels unsafe to them or out of their control. That is why sensory rooms are so important.”
“Again, I applaud the commitment of the Ladies with Letters group.”
“That is not an opinion; it is clear evidence-based fact. Screening reduces the risks of cervical cancer by detecting cell changes early, long before cancer develops. I cannot stress this strongly enough: I encourage every woman who receives an invitation to attend screening to do so. The improvements that we have made mean that the system is stronger now than before. We owe it to the women who have suffered distress to ensure that others are protected. When concerns are raised, it is essential that they are acted upon. There have been a number of reports already and more are expected. Each and every one will need to be read in its entirety to help to determine the next steps. <BR /> <BR />I again pay tribute to every woman and family involved, including those who have so bravely spoken up in recent years.”
“I urge all colleagues to approach the reports responsibly and, especially, not through a political lens but with the seriousness that the women affected deserve. The Minister, in particular, will need to give the reports' findings very careful consideration, because, at some point in the coming months, a decision will be required to consider which of the various options available to him are needed to establish accountability and to ensure that such failures never arise again. Commissioning a public inquiry is, of course, one of those options, and I have every confidence that the Minister will not shirk his responsibility in picking the right option. <BR /> <BR />It is also critical that we protect the future, and that means protecting confidence in cervical screening. That screening saves lives.”
“I very much welcome the finding that the vast majority of results were sound. <BR /> <BR />Nevertheless, since the initial Royal College of Pathologists report in 2023, there have been a number of very important changes. HPV testing has been fully introduced, offering a more accurate and reliable primary screening system, with cytology acting as the secondary test. Of course, Northern Ireland is now operating a single regional laboratory service that provides improved oversight and consistency. Those are substantial reforms that put patient safety at the forefront. Further reports are due imminently that, I hope, will help us to understand not only what happened but how oversight failed, how warning signs went unnoticed and how we prevent anything like that from ever occurring again.”
“The very essence of a screening programme is trust: trust that systems are robust, and trust that, when problems arise, they will be confronted swiftly and transparently. That trust was damaged, and it is right that apologies have been made, particularly when it comes to the previous finding of persistent underperformance in laboratory work, which simply had to be fully investigated. The enormous screening review, which involved looking at results from 17,500 women, raised the anxieties of many, but it had to be done. It was essential that the concerns were raised and acted upon appropriately. Whilst we all probably would have wished for it to conclude slightly earlier, given the importance of the issue and the scale of the concerns that were raised, it was better for the review to be done properly rather than hurriedly.”
“This is undoubtedly a very complex and deeply concerning episode for our health service. The scale of concerns raised about cytology performance in the Southern Trust laboratory over a period stretching back to 2008 is incredibly serious.”
“I begin by acknowledging the women and families at the heart of the matter, in particular the two ladies who sadly and tragically passed away. We must never lose sight of the fact that, behind every report, process or statistic, is a woman whose life may have been profoundly affected by the issues that we are discussing today. Women's courage and resilience, particularly that of those who have spoken publicly and those represented through the Ladies with Letters group, deserve our respect.”
“I was pleased to learn recently that good progress has been made on the cancer research strategy, and I think that publication is imminent. How important was it to give the research organisations and individuals locally that further time to feed into the draft plan and allow them to work in partnership with the Department?”
“Recently, I asked the Minister of Justice what her options were for securing the money for the compensation. She said that in no circumstances could her Department's budget meet it. She said that she would continue to engage with the Department of Finance to try to get additional funding from the Executive or HM Treasury. It now appears, however, that the Treasury has slammed the door in the face of the Minister and the Assembly, and it is having a devastating effect on the morale of the PSNI.”
“Does the Minister agree that strong uptake of available vaccinations would make a huge contribution to reducing pressure on health services during the winter period? Will he encourage HSC staff to avail themselves of vaccinations for their well-being and to minimise staff absence in the workforce?”
“The mental health strategy 2021-2031 provides the framework for that, with its vision of regional crisis support and home treatment services that are consistent, responsible and equitable. Progressing that vision, even in its now more targeted and focused form, must remain a shared priority across government. <BR /> <BR />I end by recognising the CCIS staff and volunteers who have given so much. Their dedication changed and, indeed, saved lives. The people of Northern Ireland deserve a system that responds to them when they are in crisis, wherever they live and whenever they need help. That must remain our collective goal.”
“While it is deeply disappointing that the CCIS has not been able to continue, I know that the Minister and his Department have had to make extraordinarily tough decisions, given the overall budget shortfall of around £600 million. The over £500,000 of funding that the CCIS received through the mental health support fund was a welcome reprieve, but it was always intended to be a one-off scheme. I acknowledge the Minister's efforts in extending that support through reallocating other small pots of available cash. <BR /> <BR />Services such as CCIS demonstrate the immense value of community-based interventions. We must learn from what has worked and ensure that future models of crisis care continue to reflect that person-centred approach.”
“<BR /> <BR />We must view the debate within the broader picture of mental health across Northern Ireland. Our region continues to face the highest rates of mental ill health in the UK — they are 25% higher than those in England — yet our spending on mental health services remains proportionately lower. That imbalance is unsustainable, and the Minister has said so. That is why he continues to press for budget allocations to be based on actual need. When it comes to mental health, our level of need is clear for all to see. <BR /> <BR />However, we cannot ignore or underestimate the financial pressures facing the Department of Health. The difficult truth is that limited budgets mean that some things, no matter how worthy or valuable, do not receive the support that, otherwise, we would dearly love them to receive.”
“I am pleased to contribute to this important debate. I begin by recognising the deeply held commitment across the Chamber to improving mental health outcomes for our citizens. As the Minister said in the media only yesterday, there is now, thankfully, a much greater awareness and understanding of mental health in the Chamber and across broader society than there was only a decade ago. Few, if any, of us doubt the enormous role that the community crisis intervention service in Londonderry delivered in recent years. That service provided a vital lifeline to many people in distress, particularly in the north-west area. It undoubtedly helped prevent moments of crisis in people's lives from escalating, and it is not an exaggeration at all to say that it likely saved multiple lives.”
“<BR /> <BR />The HSC control of data processing Bill is about ensuring trust, accountability and lawful use of deeply personal health information in an era of digital care. It also presents Northern Ireland with a further important opportunity to align with wider legislative frameworks, such as United Kingdom data protection law and, importantly, ethical frameworks for AI and digital. <BR /> <BR />Both Department of Health Bills are essential if we are to modernise Health and Social Care in a safe, transparent and effective way. I look forward to their coming to the Chamber and the Committee.”
“However, we also need to be clear that, while legislation will help, what would most help and reassure members of our workforce right now would be to give them the pay award that we all know that they fully deserve. Whilst the Chamber has the ear of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, I will say that it is most regrettable that we are still waiting for the Executive to consider and agree the Health Minister's ministerial direction request to deliver this year's pay award. With every day that passes without a resolution being found, our workforce becomes increasingly demoralised and frustrated. We are staring down the barrel of widespread industrial action that is likely to be much more significant than the 2020 action that spurred the development of the Bill.”
“Taken together, the two Bills will strengthen the safety of health and social care services and the integrity and trustworthiness of how we use and protect healthcare data. <BR /> <BR />As Members, many of us are well aware of the background to what was previously referred to as the safe staffing Bill. It was a key element of the framework agreement that led to the suspension of the industrial dispute that was secured by my party colleague Robin Swann in 2020. We cannot expect excellence in patient care if our workforce is under-resourced and unsupported. Passing the Bill will send a clear signal that patient safety and dignity, staff well-being and service integrity are not discretionary but statutory. I am therefore pleased to see Minister Nesbitt deliver on that.”
“With a reduced mandate, the Assembly and the Executive, right from the restoration in February 2024, were on the back foot with the time available to consider and pass legislation. Nevertheless, I welcome today's publication of the legislative programme. The list is likely to be accompanied by a range of Members' Bills. As a Back-Bench MLA, I respectfully suggest that it would be helpful if Members were to receive a written update at some point as to the range of Members' Bills that are being considered and the indicative timescales of some that are coming forward. <BR /> <BR />I speak primarily to support two critical Bills in the Executive programme: the safe and effective staffing Bill and the HSC control of data processing Bill.”
“Is that assessment still your position, or are things improving?”
“Last November, I brought to your attention in the Chamber, Minister, a whistle-blower who had reported to me that Belfast lough had the potential to become the new Lough Neagh within the next 10 years. Part of your reply to me that day was this:”
“The way that I see it, there are only two possible outcomes: ether a chance to do something different will emerge, or the assessment will tell the Minister to stay on the current track. Either option will not see time lost, but, crucially, might see some time gained. We have seen, in recent years, that progress is possible. Now, we must deliver this final but important step of a regional unit as quickly as we can, whilst always keeping the safety of mums and babies to the absolute fore.”
“<BR /> <BR />While I note the call for "interim measures" to be developed, which I would dearly wish to see if they were deliverable, in reality, the clinicians who are the experts in this field have already said that there is no way to do that. It is not just a case of repackaging a few beds or a ward and putting a new sign outside the front door. This is an incredibly complex and sensitive area of healthcare, and a wholly inadequate or wrongly located unit could even prove to be worse than no unit. In that regard, I will listen to the experts. <BR /> <BR />We should keep an open mind on how to do things more swiftly, where it is safe and feasible to do so. That is why we have tabled amendment No 2, which asks for a rapid review of all options.”
“For the first time, we had a dedicated structure of expertise and care specifically for women who were experiencing perinatal mental health difficulties. That service is now well embedded, with professionals providing invaluable outreach and support across maternity and mental health settings. It represents a tangible, life-changing improvement. I pay tribute to former Minister Swann and the many clinicians, campaigners and families who championed that cause for years. Today, under the drive of the current Health Minister, that foundation is being built upon. He has made clear his determination to complete the journey to ensure that the regional service is complemented by an inpatient mother-and-baby unit that is capable of providing the highest level of care when community support is no longer sufficient.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is not an MLA in the Chamber who believes that giving new mums the impossible choice of either being admitted to a general mental health ward and separated from their baby or travelling much further afield to access specialist support is really the right or even humane thing to do. Either option is deeply distressing and compounds trauma at a time when those new mums are already fragile. That is why such a service cannot come a day too soon. <BR /> <BR />To be fair, progress has been made, and it is right to acknowledge it. Under former Health Minister Robin Swann, the Department of Health delivered a regional perinatal mental health service. That was a major step forward that brought specialist community teams into each of our health and social care trusts.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important topic and to once again place on record my party's strong support for the establishment of a regional mother-and-baby unit here in Northern Ireland. As the motion states, bringing a new life into the world should be among the most joyous and fulfilling experiences that a person can have, yet, for some women, that joy is reduced by the devastating impact of mental ill health. Poor mental health during pregnancy or after birth is not particularly rare and, thanks to the efforts of some people and organisations, there is now much greater awareness, but, for a small number, the symptoms are so acute that they require inpatient care. It is for those women and those families that a unit here in Northern Ireland would be so important.”
“For some in the House, including Mr Carroll, it seems to me that their issue is with what the officers were doing rather than with the fact that they were in London. Does the Minister agree that the purpose of a call for mutual aid is not a matter of consideration for the Chief Constable on whether to meet that call but, rather, is a matter of operational capacity at a particular time and that the Chief Constable is best placed to make that call?”
“Does the deputy First Minister then agree with me that the call for any public inquiry does not always meet the test of whether it is in the public interest to go down that road, given the cost to the public purse, among other considerations?”
“We could do nothing without the necessary expert Home Office approval, and, again, I stress that our first and foremost priority should remain on the prevention of drug taking in the first place. The safest option is never to take drugs at all. That message must remain at the heart of our public health strategy. Alongside prevention, education and enforcement, we must be responsive to other steps that can demonstrably save lives. That is why my party and I are happy to support the motion and receive an update from the Minister. <BR /> <BR />In the meantime, I hope that the PSNI will continue to pursue those evil people who are making fortunes out of peddling a range of addictive poisons to our citizens.”
“Importantly, those warnings are not a green light for drug use; they are a red light flashing urgently to tell as many people as possible who might pick it up that this substance could kill you or at least cause you some serious harm. That is the distinction that we must grasp. <BR /> <BR />Instinctively, the call for a similar service in Northern Ireland is compelling, and I note the important work under way here between the PSNI, Forensic Science Northern Ireland and Queen's University. However, of course and understandably, any decision or process about a Northern Ireland testing scheme is likely to be much more complex than it may at first appear.”