Justin McNulty
Newry and Armagh · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for challenging some of the narratives that are peddled in relation to immigration. <BR /> <BR />Minister, what steps are you taking to support community safety partnerships in addressing misinformation on illegal immigration and to help build confidence in how local criminality is being managed?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I welcome the progress that has been outlined today on major waterways projects, including the Ulster canal project.”
“Will you commit to throwing your full support and that of your Department behind that effort by backing the establishment of the task force and by working proactively with local councils and partners, including the Department of the Taoiseach's Shared Island unit, to realise finally the enormous economic, tourism and environmental potenti…”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. We have all seen the deterioration of our high streets and streets in our towns and villages with the shift to online shopping. Vacancy and dilapidation are now sadly the norm. Will the review act as a stimulus for businesses on those streets in our towns and villages?”
“Absolutely. The Minister and the Department can never relinquish the reins of proper scrutiny. <BR /> <BR />The reclassification by ONS will mean that all trust ports can borrow, which will allow them the commercial flexibility to invest more in their infrastructure.”
“<BR /> <BR />The trust port model has stood the test of time and has worked well for the North. We can see the economic and social benefits in the local communities around the ports. In 2025, the DFI completed a review of the trust ports in the North to explore how the Department's policy on trust ports could be updated.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,598 lines we hold for Justin McNulty, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 23 of 32.
“I thank the Minister for her statement. It is clearly evident that she has worked feverishly to advance North/South and South/North opportunities. However, she has been obstructed by the DUP Ministers from taking forward important North/South Ministerial Council meetings. Can she advise on the impact of potential delays on crucial meetings and crucial all-island projects?”
“It is one thing getting your picture taken pointing at potholes; it is another matter altogether to get the Sinn Féin Finance Minister to pony up to pay for their repair. Everyone knows that the Sinn Féin Minister holds the purse strings. With your resource budget effectively being a real-terms cut to the infrastructure budget, you have a difficult job balancing competing priorities. Have you asked the Sinn Féin Finance Minister for more money for those priorities and for the repair of potholes?”
“There needs to be more support for children in schools and more post-19 support services. <BR /> <BR />We need to outlaw the cruel practice of restraint in education or healthcare settings and the practice of excluding or secluding a child. There needs to be greater support and guidance. The Department of Education must urgently provide up-to-state statutory guidance on therapeutically based, non-aversive, positive behaviour strategies. We need mandatory training in those for all staff working directly with children and young people. Any restraint must be human rights-compliant, and any instance in which it is used must be documented and recorded by law. <BR /> <BR />All that we ask is that someone with a disability or challenging behaviour be treated with gentle care, dignity and respect and treated as important members of our society.”
“Last week, I had the honour of hosting on Zoom a successful public meeting on special educational needs. We heard from the Children's Commissioner, the mental health champion and the Children's Law Centre. The women from whom we heard were impressive advocates for children and do really important work. <BR /> <BR />We also heard heartbreaking stories from the families of those with disabilities about their struggles with the education and health systems as they seek the support that their children need and deserve and to which they are legally entitled. There needs to be greater investment in services for children with additional needs and more comprehensive short-break respite services for the families of children and, indeed, adults with complex needs.”
“I know of many examples in my constituency: groups like the Appleby Trust, incredABLE, Support and Training to Realise Individual Development and Employment (STRIDE), Mencap and many others. The young people on those schemes did not become their confident, bubbly, engaging and hard-working selves by being told to sit in the corner or in a room away from their friends and being medically, physically or mechanically restrained. Those young people became the wonderful individuals they are by being cared for, supported, encouraged and cherished as important members of our society. <BR /> <BR />In recent decades, much of the support and care for those with special educational needs, additional needs or learning disabilities has changed for the better. However, we have a long way to go to get anywhere near where it should be or needs to be.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our society has a shameful record in its treatment of children with additional needs or challenging behaviours. For many years, children with additional needs were locked away, be that in the home or in an institution. They were hidden from the world and seen and treated as a burden on the education system and on society. That was horrendously wrong. In recent decades, we have seen welcome change in the way in which we care for, support and educate children with additional needs. We are rightly moving towards a place where we encourage and value their important and invaluable contribution to society and life. <BR /> <BR />Many of those children now attend mainstream schools. They engage in training programmes and enjoy the world of work.”
“As a member of the Education Committee, I wholeheartedly endorse the motion. I applaud the bravery, fortitude and determination of people like Deirdre Shakespeare. It was heart-wrenching to sit in the Education Committee and hear her story about Harry and the stories of other parents. I also thank Shauna Kane for her input on this important issue. <BR /> <BR />Seclusion or restraint is no way in which to treat a child, whether they have special educational needs, learning difficulty, physical disability or behavioural challenges. Seclusion is exclusion. Restraint is cruel. Our children deserve better. A learning disability is not a disease: it is a disability, and we cannot and should not accept any form of seclusion, exclusion or restraint, by whatever means, in the care, education or treatment of a child.”
“Minister, this day three weeks ago, my son, Setanta, was born in Daisy Hill Hospital. My wife and I were overwhelmed by the quality of care received from the maternity teams, GPs, doctors, nurses, midwives, community midwives, porters, cleaning and catering staff. It was second to none. It was world class. It was exemplary. Minister, we do not know how to thank them. <BR /> <BR />Minister, in relation to the question at hand, with the recently published health inequalities report showing that the rates of alcohol-specific mortality in the most deprived areas are four times that in the least deprived, what steps is your Department taking to tackle the problem with alcohol?”
“I thank the Member for mentioning PIPS Hope and Support. In relation to the terribly traumatic story that Mr Buckley shared with us, I encourage Julia to get in touch with PIPS Hope and Support. They have done such important work to destigmatise death by suicide, and they are very helpful in crisis prevention and reaching out to families who are suffering from bereavement. I encourage Mr Buckley to recommend that Julia gets in touch with them.”
“I feel a bit of a John Travolta moment coming on. In all seriousness, young people are very keen to get back to organising their weddings, and they want to know that there can be a large attendance, that their families are able to come along and that they can get onto the dance floor and throw a few moves.”
“We have so many young couples who are excited about their big day that is planned for the coming months. They do not know whether they can have it in the North or the South, how many people will be able to attend or whether they will be able to have a boogie. You cannot have a wedding without a boogie. I hope that there will be clarity on that very soon. <BR /> <BR />I hope that, as the Communities Minister alluded to in the last few days, we will be able to go to a concert safely. I hope that practices and procedures are put in place to allow that, and I want to be back supporting Armagh as soon as possible. I support the amendment regulations.”
“<BR /> <BR />From a personal perspective, I am delighted that the gyms are open, that the leisure facilities are back in play and that sport has recommenced. It is absolutely fantastic, but it still pains me and so many passionate sportspeople to have to watch our sports team on TV. I hope that we will be able to attend sporting matches and events in person soon. <BR /> <BR />I second the comments and notes of the previous contributor. Whilst I welcome the relaxations, it is also important that we urge caution. We need to maintain vigilance and to understand that the Indian variant, as mentioned, presents a wholly different threat. <BR /> <BR />Having said that, I want to see clarity soon from an all-island perspective, especially in relation to weddings.”
“I support the amendments and I offer my sincere condolences to every family that is still grieving for loved ones who were lost to COVID. I rise in solidarity with people who are the driving force of our economy in high streets, town centres and villages: those involved in close-contact services, such as beauticians, hairdressers and barbers; those involved in retail and hospitality, such as workers in restaurants, bars, hotels, and caravan and camping parks; and those involved in business services, like accountancy and law firms. Those people have endured a lot throughout the pandemic, and they will be delighted to be able to get back to their lives, passions and livelihoods, so I very much welcome the relaxations on their behalf.”
“I want to build a fairer, better and more equal society. I want to build a society that shares this place and that provides opportunity for everyone who opts to call this place home. I want to build a society that embraces those of Christian faith, other faiths and, indeed, those with no faith at all. I want to build a society with an education system that, at its core, promotes equality and nourishes ambition and opportunity. We must lead by example. The exemption of teachers and schools from the FETO legislation has passed its sell-by date. I support the motion.”
“I believe that there is now, and always will be, a place for faith in our education system, but I also believe that to discriminate against or prevent someone from getting a job in a school, or, indeed, in any place of work, based on that person's religious belief is wrong. As I said at the Education Committee recently, I cannot believe that such legislation is still on our statute books. It is outdated and should be removed. I want to take Pope Francis at his word that:”
“It taught me to be a global, outward-looking citizen and to play my part in making this world a better place. To me, the ethos of Catholic education is about the whole-school and whole-world experience. As Pope Francis put it, Catholic education:”
“I thank the Member for Lagan Valley for tabling today's motion. I am happy to support it. I attended a Catholic primary school and a Catholic secondary school. My Catholic education helped to shape the person I am today. It helped to hone my values, beliefs, identity and sense of humanity. My Catholic education taught me that we all belong to one human family.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Cross-border banks have long been a driver of our all-island economy, but some of those banks are disinvesting on both sides of the border. As the Minister mentioned, Ulster Bank has closed operations in the South. Bank of Ireland is closing branches in the North, including in Keady and Crossmaglen in our constituency. That disinvestment is made worse because financial services are not covered by the protocol. The Minister 's Budget document made it clear that it is his Department's responsibility to lead on financial services. What is he doing specifically to protect the all-island economy against the damage done by banks scaling down their operations on either side of the border?”
“I welcome the general thrust of the Minister's statement today, which has the best interests of children and young people at heart. However, he must recognise that the disruption has not been evenly distributed during the pandemic. The gap has widened for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs. How will he accommodate them in the awarding of grades in the coming months and years? How will they be helped to ensure that they are not left further behind?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement and for meeting this morning with the board of governors and principal of St Joseph and St James's Primary School, Poyntzpass. They are really excited about their new school, but equally they are frustrated about the delays in delivering it. They are very grateful that the Minister, along with his Department, has committed to delivering the school as soon as possible.”
“Over 200 Palestinians are dead, including 58 children and 33 women. More than 1,200 people have been injured. Eight people have been killed in Israel, including a child and a police officer. We have all seen the images of families crouched over the rubble of what was once their home, in despair and grief. We should know from here that one death for political reasons is one too many. When is the international community going to say, "Enough is enough"? The rocket attacks on Israel are wrong, but Israel's response is completely disproportionate. Israel's violence and discrimination against and attempted erasure of the Palestinian people is appalling. The bombing must stop. We must reach a peaceful settlement. The international community must step forward now.”
“Those are the words of a young mother named Eman in Gaza, which were relayed by Congressperson Rashida Tlaib —”
“Minister, I applaud your attempt to pronounce as Gaeilge words. Well done on that. To follow up on the Bunscoil an Iúir question, at what stage are its new-build plans?”
“We need to recognise that young people with autism can rock the world and make it a better place, be it in music, the arts, science or literature. Let their only limitation be the limit of their ambition.”
“To the EA's credit, it is implementing improvements, but it cannot do it alone; it needs more support. <BR /> <BR />As a constituency MLA, I have been contacted by many parents about their trials and frustrations in accessing services. The trust in my area is, to its credit, better than most, but I do not accept that that is the best that we can do. Parents and children deserve better, and we need to see significant changes. We need better and quicker access to diagnostic services and the support services that come with a diagnosis. We need a better, more joined-up approach across the system. We need to stop failing our young people with autism and their families. We need more support in education and healthcare and in supported employment opportunities.”
“Any parent will go to the ends of the earth to ensure that their son or daughter has everything that they need and deserve. They know that their son or daughter needs additional support, and they get justifiably frustrated when they are met only with delay after delay. Those who have the financial wherewithal then turn to the private sector for assessments. They do so out of sheer want to do the best for their children, and so they should, but what about the families and children who do not have the finances to go private? Therein lies the health inequality. <BR /> <BR />As a member of the Education Committee, I have heard many stories from advocacy groups such as Autism NI and the Children's Law Centre and educationalists. The Committee has had the Education Authority (EA) before it.”
“It is important to recognise that the impact of autism is not just on the child with autism; there is a ripple effect on their immediate and extended families, friends and neighbours. That ripple effect must be addressed, and that will come through doing the right thing for children and families who are dealing with autism. One in 24 school-age children has autism: that is one in every class. Some 78% of those children are in mainstream education. Continuing to fail those children fails a large section of our society. <BR /> <BR />For a parent to seek help for their son or daughter is not easy. It can be trying or difficult for a parent to cope. However, meeting bureaucracy and brick walls only adds to the pain, the frustration and the sense of abandonment.”
“I acknowledge the great work of Dominic Bradley, a Bessbrook man, who brought forward that legislation with the support of others and the team in Autism NI. I also acknowledge Crossmaglen man John Fee, RIP, who was the first person to table a motion on autism in the Assembly. Sadly, though, there has been a failure by the Department of Health to implement the autism strategy and its subsequent action plans. The Autism Act 2011 is current and binding. It is the responsibility of the Executive to ensure that the autism strategy is fulfilled, that it is outcomes-based and that it can be measured and benchmarked. That has not happened. If we continue to fail children with autism, we continue to fail as a society. <BR /> <BR />My heart goes out to the Members who have described their personal experiences with autism.”
“No one, let alone a child with a disability, should be disadvantaged or left behind by a state or system that is supposed to care for them, nurture them and support them. <BR /> <BR />As I speak on this important issue, I am proud of my south Armagh SDLP predecessors. Autism NI described the 2011 Act as:”
“I support the motion and the amendment. Let us imagine a world without people with autism. There would be no Sir Isaac Newton, no Hans Christian Andersen, no Charles Darwin, no WB Yeats, no Daryl Hannah, no Albert Einstein, no Mozart and no James Joyce. What a dull, boring, undiscovered, grey and dismal world it would be. <BR /> <BR />Autism is not a disease; it is a disability.”
“The biggest threat to the environment is the belief that someone else will save it. We all must save it.”
“I am inspired by their activism, determination and impatience for change in order to make this a better place. They, rightly, see this issue as far more important than identity, culture or tradition, and they firmly challenge us to do more to protect the environment and make change happen. <BR /> <BR />When I think of our planet and our natural world, I think of Sir David Attenborough, so it is appropriate for me to finish with a quote from him:”
“Putting up a few wind turbines, using reusable water bottles and having more electric charging points for cars, whilst important, will not be enough on their own. I want to educate the Alliance Party Member who does not know about the FASTER project; maybe he should get more up to speed with what is going on on the ground. Small, token measures will not cut through and save our planet. <BR /> <BR />Climate change is the challenge of our generation. If we are to leave this world a better place, we need to start now. Now is the time. In 20 years' time, saying "would have", "could have" and "should have" will not have saved our environment. <BR /> <BR />I want to talk about how impressed I am by the way in which this issue has captivated and activated our young people.”
“I appreciate that this issue is not without contention and that this debate may not be universally welcomed in every part of our community. As I said, I appreciate that there are concerns about lives and livelihoods. I thank all those on both sides of the argument who have contacted me. My team and I will endeavour to respond to each of them individually. However, to me, it is simple: there is no planet B. <BR /> <BR />We need to do the right thing. We need to work with communities, business and industry in order to change behaviours, practices and policies. We need to be ambitious and to build a collaborative process that brings people, stakeholders and society with us. We all need to think and act differently about what we eat and the way that we produce foods, package food and goods to transport and deal with waste.”
“Yes, part of it relates to the over-intensification of farming, but there is also over-industrialisation, traffic, the pollution of our lands and waterways by dumping of waste, the plastification of our daily lives, the dumping of smugglers' fuel waste, the impact of fossil fuels, and the exponential growth and creation of greenhouse gases. The Bill, as it progresses, must engage and encourage a cross-sectoral approach and cross-sectoral responsibility. <BR /> <BR />As a new dad, I want my son to have the same love, respect and appreciation for the land that I do, and of the sea and the delicate planet that we live on. In 20 or 30 years' time, if he asks me what I did to protect the environment, I want to be able to tell him that I did all I could.”
“They are concerned that their lives and livelihoods will be impacted, but farmers want to play their part. Farmers and every other stakeholder and sector must be involved in shaping the Bill as it progresses, and they must be informed and incentivised on how they can play their part to not only protect the environment but enhance their roles as custodians and stewards of the land. Rewilding, reforestation and species reintroduction must be incentivised or rewarded alongside traditional farming. <BR /> <BR />That said, the farming piece and the agri-food piece are only two parts of the climate change jigsaw. We all see the carnage and the damage done to our lands, our ecology and our ecosystems by the activities of the human race.”
“I am of the land and from the land. I was born and reared in rural south Armagh. I am a culchie and proud. I love and cherish the beauty of our natural heritage, our mountains, our landscape, our waterways and our environment. I was reared farming my uncle Patsy and my auntie Roisin's farm. I cannot begin to describe the life lessons that I learned from my upbringing on the farm of my dear uncle, God rest him. I have fond memories of taking in the hay, milking cows, calving, testing, reseeding, dosing, fencing, feeding, tagging, draining, horning, spreading bag stuff, mowing and counting cattle. I do not have such fond memories of covering the silage twice a year. I so miss the feeling of closing the byre door when the milking was finished. <BR /> <BR />Therefore, I understand and sympathise with farmers who are concerned.”
“These are profound words that send a chill down my spine and lay down a challenge to those of us across the globe who are elected to public office to do something about it. <BR /> <BR />I support the Second Stage of the Climate Change Bill and thank Ms Bailey for her work on this issue. The planet is hotter now than it has been for at least 12,000 years, a period spanning the entire development of human civilisation, according to research, and it has not just happened by a force of nature. We, the human race, have caused this, and we, the human race, have a responsibility to change course. It is not too late, and, in the words of Greta Thunberg:”
“Not my words, but the words of the late Dr Stephen Hawking:”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and his answers thus far. Following on from the previous question and the £178 million that has been announced for three schemes, will you, Minister, give us greater detail on when you expect those payments to be made? When will the application process open for the schemes that require an application?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. That means that £2 million has been paid to universities to administer that money. Would that money not be more wisely spent on the students whom you have excluded from the scheme, including those who are studying in Britain, down South or further afield? When will those students be included in the scheme?”
“What is the Minister's assessment of the additional quota that has been allocated to the local fishing industry as an outcome of Brexit?”
“<BR /> <BR />Minister, in your statement you referred to 570,000 patients who were waiting for their first consultant-led outpatient appointment, for inpatient day-care treatment or for a diagnostic test: that is more than half a million people. That is a third of our population. You talked about it being five to 10 years before waiting lists got back to acceptable levels. That will not provide much comfort to patients and their families. Can you say anything today that will provide some comfort for those patients and their families?”
“I am delighted to say that, this morning, I got my first COVID vaccination. It was at the South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon, and I was mesmerised by the teamwork, the positivity, the professionalism, the friendliness, the warmth of the welcome, the camaraderie, the organisation and the efficiency. It was heart-warming. Well done to all the health carers and management involved and to you, as Minister, for overseeing the deployment of the vaccinations. I give a special mention to Linda Willis, who put the needle in my arm, and to Sharon Kerr. The most important thing is that the energy, enthusiasm and teamwork on show there was incredible. It can move mountains.”
“She wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with every one of those victims, and I think that everybody in the House stands shoulder to shoulder with those victims. <BR /> <BR />Thank you all for your contributions. I support the motion and the amendment.”
“Cara Hunter said that there is no room for complacency when women face misogynistic abuse every day. She said that we have to teach society to respect women. <BR /> <BR />Gerry Kelly said that this was about women and girls. He said that, in 82% of intimate partner homicides, women are the victims. Paula Bradshaw said that this is a seminal moment in tackling gender-based violence, and we all agree with that. <BR /> <BR />Gerry Carroll said that women facing intimidation in the home get fewer intimidation points than those who claim to have received paramilitary threats. How can that be justified? The First Minister said that she saw the deaths of the victims of domestic violence for what they were — murder.”
“Kellie Armstrong wanted to send out a clear signal to all that acts of violence against women and children are wrong and will not be tolerated. <BR /> <BR />Rosemary Barton said that gender violence against women is systematic abuse to reinforce power over them. Women are left with physical and non-physical wounds. Since lockdown, the number of women who have experienced a domestic violence incident has doubled. <BR /> <BR />Paul Givan stated his support for a gendered strategy that focuses on tackling violence against women and girls. Nicola Brogan said that violence against women was about power and that the police and the PPS needed to pursue perpetrators. <BR /> <BR />Emma Sheerin spoke about her Sinn Féin values. She said that she was disgusted at how horrific it is for rape victims to be made to feel like the guilty party.”
“It is simply not good enough that we lag behind other parts of these islands in protections and supports for women and girls. The need for us to keep women and girls safe cannot be overstated. <BR /> <BR />Rachel Woods said that the system was not working. The problem is male violence against women and girls. It is very sad that, despite the issue having been raised by Women's Aid, it has taken so long for action to be taken, and women have lost their lives. A focus on identity issues to the detriment of keeping women and girls safe is wrong. Flags do not protect women in their homes. <BR /> <BR />Pam Cameron said that one in five women in the UK will experience a sexual assault. That is shocking and disgusting. Linda Dillon expressed her condolences to all families who have lost loved ones to domestic violence.”
“I am disgusted. <BR /> <BR />Women's Aid welcomes the U-turn by the Minister. The Minister is on record as previously wanting to stay gender-neutral. Today's debate shows that that position is at odds with Members' views. <BR /> <BR />I place on record my thanks to Women's Aid and to my colleague Sinéad Bradley, who no doubt strongly influenced the Minister's change of position. However, nobody will take away from the greatest influence of all in this sensitive issue: the sad deaths of women over recent months, all the instances of domestic violence and the fear and threats experienced by women in their own homes. <BR /> <BR />I will touch on Members' contributions. Proposing the motion, Sinéad Bradley stated strongly that she wants to make this place, our shared home, a safe place for women and girls.”
“That is why Women's Aid and the safe refuge that it provides are so important. <BR /> <BR />We must also remember the suicides, which are not included in the stats. Trauma, fear and despair have driven many women to take their own lives. <BR /> <BR />Sadly, we are all aware of the stark data that shows that instances of domestic violence have escalated during the pandemic. Women's Aid says that lockdown has inadvertently created a perfect storm for domestic violence. The "Stay at home" message has been devastating for many women and girls for whom home is not a safe place. <BR /> <BR />There is a 15-year high of instances of domestic violence in the North. What do you think happened to funding for Women's Aid here during that escalation? The funding went down. How can we explain that? How can we justify that? How can that be acceptable?”