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.”
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“That is crucial, as we all know that, in 2023, Newry experienced flooding that devastated local businesses. On 2 October 2025, Maydown bridge, which connects Tyrone and Armagh, suffered a partial collapse due to heavy rainfall, causing huge disruption to locals. When will Maydown bridge be repaired or reconstructed? <BR /> <BR />Infrastructure issues that are compounded when we experience flooding, such as that in Newcastle at the weekend and in Newry two years ago, show that we have not taken enough concrete steps to prepare for adverse weather conditions. We talked about the problem then, and we are talking about it again two years later, without the Executive having taken any meaningful action.”
“Communities are best equipped to know the intricacies of an area, such as where vulnerable people live and where vulnerable places lie. Given that local expertise, communities should be empowered and supported and given the necessary tools to plan for and respond to adverse weather conditions. The Cushendall Community Resilience Group, for example, demonstrates how such organisations can operate. Instead of relying on emergency services, those groups have emergency plans that are tailored to their community needs, and they work in partnership with the rescue services as necessary. <BR /> <BR />The flood resilience group in Newry is another example of a community-led group. Along with Newry business improvement district (BID) members, it has ensured that Newry is at a much more advanced state of flood readiness.”
“I rise today to speak on the motion calling for strengthening storm resilience and infrastructure preparedness. I agree that strengthening our infrastructure and resilience to better protect against storms is critical to the public and for community safety. However, the motion does not advance any specific actionable recommendations to tangibly address the matter. <BR /> <BR />To best achieve the goal of storm resilience and infrastructure preparedness, the Executive must put forward specific and detailed plans to tackle the issue in areas where there are the greatest vulnerabilities and susceptibilities to flooding. Aligned with the construction of infrastructure protections, the Executive must put forward more supports and resources into community resilience groups to combat storm-related issues.”
“Minister, my office was contacted last week by a lady who was distressed enormously by the fact that she spent multiple hours waiting in an overcrowded emergency department at Craigavon Area Hospital, where corridor care is the norm. After 26 hours' waiting to see a doctor, she walked out; she just could not wait for any longer. What does it say about our health service that a woman decided to leave an ED because she gave up?”
“Minister, the North remains the only part of the UK without a statutory target to reduce fuel poverty. Can you confirm whether you intend to bring forward such a provision within this mandate?”
“There is a wonderful saying in Ireland that I love: ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. It means, "in the shelter of each other, people live" or, "in each other's shadow, we survive". That Irish wisdom highlights the importance of community and mutual reliance, emphasising the fact that we all need shelter and give shelter to one another. It is sad that that that generous and protective philosophy is not embraced here. The Irish language threatens no one. It is the indigenous mother tongue of this land. It belongs to us all and can be cherished by us all. <BR /> <BR />Just last week, a friend of mine bought me a beautiful book by Manchán Magan, called 'Ninety-Nine Words for Rain (and One for Sun)'. I will borrow two words from that book and say: enough of the néaladóirí”
“We cannot afford to keep kicking the cans down the road. Infrastructure is not a luxury; it is the foundation of a functioning, fair and forward-looking society. Delays cost money, yes, but, more than that, they cost lives, opportunity and public trust. I say this directly to the NI Executive: your legislative programme is only as credible as your ability to deliver it. The legislative programme exposes a lack of joined-up government, with key Departments —”
“<BR /> <BR />The A5 project, waste water reform, rail connectivity, Casement Park, crumbling roads and bus safety are not isolated failures but symptoms of a legislative programme that is too often paralysed by division, walkouts, short-termism and administrative inertia. They represent commitments that were made to the people and not kept. We cannot afford to keep —.”
“Sadly, much of what is in the legislative programme is a tidying-up exercise rather than a programme for change. <BR /> <BR />There is then Casement Park. It was once a symbol of regeneration and inclusion, but it is now a monument to delay. It was promised, planned and even politically agreed, yet it has still not been built. With Euro 2028 gone, the Executive have squandered not just a major international sporting opportunity but their credibility. Casement Park should have been a beacon of progress, but it is instead a case study in dysfunction. When will Casement Park be built?”
“Sadly, the legislative programme is a symptom of an Executive who cannot agree, cannot prioritise and cannot deliver. <BR /> <BR />Now consider the all-island rail review. It is a visionary proposal with the potential to reconnect communities, reduce our dependence on cars and slash emissions. The review report was published and welcomed, but, since then, what have we seen? A lot of goodwill but precious little commitment to action. The hourly Enterprise service is a huge success. It was something that I campaigned for vociferously since I was first elected. It remains one of the Executive's single big achievements. <BR /> <BR />While the Republic of Ireland moves ahead with its rail ambitions, the North risks being left behind once again, still stuck using diesel trains, with crumbling stations and minimal connectivity west of the Bann.”
“How can we speak of balanced regional development while such a major transport project remains stalled for over a decade? <BR /> <BR />The Executive's so-called ambitious legislation programme is late and thin on delivery. What about our waste water infrastructure? The North is facing a crisis that threatens housing, investment and the environment. From Newtownards to Newry and on to small rural villages, waste water systems are at or beyond capacity. Developers are being told that they cannot build. Businesses are being denied opportunities. Raw sewage is being discharged into our rivers, lakes and seas. The Executive have known about our waste water infrastructure for years, yet strategic investment continues to be deferred. We remain dangerously behind the rest of the UK and Ireland in modernising that critical infrastructure.”
“Nowhere is that more evident than in the failure of the legislative programme to advance major infrastructure projects that are not only long overdue but vital to our region's economic, environmental and social well-being. <BR /> <BR />Let me begin with the A5 western transport corridor. The project was first proposed over 15 years ago. That critical arterial route was meant to better connect the north-west, save lives on a notoriously dangerous road and open up economic opportunities for one of our most neglected regions. The A5 remains in limbo, however. It is mired in consultations, legal challenges and delay after delay. Meanwhile, the communities that it was meant to serve are left waiting and mourning, as fatalities continue to mount.”
“I will keep this short, as I know that some Members are trying to get off to the Northern Ireland match. The team had a great win on Friday, and I bet that the Member for North Belfast is now sorry that he tabled his anti-Irish language motion. <BR /> <BR />I speak today with a deep sense of frustration that is shared by communities across the North. There is frustration at promises made and commitments repeated. Years later, delivery remains absent. We were told that the Programme for Government and the associated legislative programme would represent a new approach. It was to be one based on outcomes, collaboration and tangible progress, yet the gap between the Executive's commitments through their legislation programme and actual delivery could not be more stark.”
“Does the fact that no funding is attached to the Bill not mean that councils will be reluctant to spend their scarce resources? Will you consider a small budget to support councils?”
“Minister, you seemed to outline a take it or leave it approach there. The Bill's explanatory and financial memorandum says:”
“Does the Minister agree that, in addition to rural and urban balance, there needs to be regional balance in the allocation of that £150 million? What will he do to ensure that that happens, given the fact that it is a joint scheme with the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for Communities?”
“Minister, you mentioned ending "the cycle of intergenerational trauma". What about ending the trauma experienced by victims who were maimed and attacked in their own home by the IRA but cannot access the pension scheme because they were maimed and attacked by members of their own community? What is your assessment of that reality? How does that level with ending intergenerational trauma and the trauma experienced by the victims?”
“Invest in it, protect it and build it into health planning, funding and rural policy, not as an afterthought but as a foundation. Funding levels must be increased to address unmet need, because every journey that Armagh Rural Transport and every rural transport organisation makes is more than a trip — it is statement that no one in our rural communities should be left behind.”
“That is why we must say clearly that community transport is not optional. It is a cornerstone of an inclusive health system, yet many of those organisations, including Armagh Rural Transport, are operating under growing financial pressures, rising fuel costs, ageing vehicles and insecure funding streams. <BR /> <BR />Rural transport organisations need to be able to generate funds, and that can be done through group hire. They need sufficient capital funding to provide adequate buses, so, today, I make this call directly to policymakers and to the Executive parties: if we are serious about tackling health inequality, promoting rural inclusion and caring for all our citizens, sustainable funding for our community transport must be part of that commitment.”
“Without those services, many simply would not get there. We are talking about 8,000 trips in one year. Where would those patients, families and communities be without those trips? Imagine being an older person living miles from the nearest bus stop with no family care and facing a hospital appointment in Daisy Hill, Craigavon or Belfast. That is where Armagh Rural Transport steps in, with accessible minibuses and volunteer drivers offering door-to-door support, kindness and dignity. That is community spirit in action. It is people helping people. However, make no mistake: it is also healthcare delivery, because, when transport fails, so too does access to care. Missed appointments become missed diagnoses, health inequalities deepen and the cost, human and financial, rises.”
“This is Community Transport Week. Community transport is about so much more than a minibus. In rural parts of the North, distance can often be more than just miles on a map. It can mean the difference between getting the care that you need or going without. I will speak about those who bridge that gap: our rural transport organisations, in particular Armagh Rural Transport, which I visited last week. I give a shout-out to Dermot Mooney and Joanne Curran; two effervescent, relentless and determined live wires who make that organisation tick. <BR /> <BR />Every week, Armagh Rural Transport quietly ensures that hundreds of local people, many of whom are elderly, isolated or living with mobility challenges, can attend hospital appointments and GP visits and get vital treatments. For them, these are not luxury trips; they are lifelines.”
“It is achievable if this place, for once, ignited a spark of hope that could reverberate through the generations. How do you like them apples, Minister? <BR /> <BR />It is not about just apples; it is about sustaining family farms, rural communities and a piece of our cultural identity that has shaped Armagh for generations and centuries. Let us make sure that the "Orchard County" lives up to its name, not just in memory but in reality.”
“We need DAERA and the Minister to engage seriously with the industry to put in place targeted support, grants, research, investment, and growing and production assistance to rebuild confidence and capacity in that proud sector. <BR /> <BR />I say this to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Minister for the Economy: please think big. Please demonstrate some vision. Please show some pride in our people and place. Please support an indigenous industry that is just waiting to take off. Give people, businesses and families hope. Can you imagine Armagh apples glimmering freshly on the shelves of every supermarket in Ireland and beyond? That is the potential. That is the BHAG — the big, hairy, audacious goal.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ireland is far too small an island to have two completely different regimes when it comes to agriculture and agri-food support. Minister, what are you doing and what is the Economy Minister doing to mirror the regulatory and support systems for farmers, growers and associated agri-businesses? A "little North" status quo approach will not save an industry that is on its knees. The truth is that the apple industry in Armagh, which was once vibrant and financially sustainable for the parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts of growers and producers, is now struggling to survive. It does not have to be that way. We need a clear policy shift: a strategy to move from an over-reliance on Bramleys to eating different apple varieties, which will ensure that our growers can compete fairly across this island.”
“The research capacity in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) has effectively downed tools when it comes to orchards and apple production. There is no pipeline of innovation or technical support to sustain, modernise or reinvigorate the industry. When we compare the support structures in the North with those in the South, the difference is stark. If a storm hits in the South, there is an immediate relief fund set up, but there is nothing provided here. Even the paperwork for getting support from Invest NI is so complicated and cumbersome that many small agribusinesses take one look at it and say, "Sod this. I will try to figure out a way to raise the money myself". That is not how to encourage growth or innovation. It is disappointing that the Economy Minister is not here to hear the debate.”
“The cider market, which many relied on, has dropped off dramatically, with Clonmel now taking only 30% of what was expected from the 2025 harvest. The juicers and dicers need only so much. <BR /> <BR />Years ago, a grower could get £100 for a bin of apples, but they are now lucky to get £50 or £60. That is not sustainable. One grower told me recently, "Justin, I could plant 1,000 acres of Gala apples and still not have enough". The potential and the ambition are there, but, without support, our growers simply cannot make it happen for them. Setting up even a basic grading and flotation system can cost three quarters of a million pounds, and that is out of reach for most small, family-owned orchards. The apple-growing industry section of DAERA is, in the industry's own words, the "forgotten section".”
“<BR /> <BR />Minister Muir met growers and industry representatives, and I acknowledge the engagement that took place, but, since the positive words, there has been no progress, action or tangible support. Meanwhile, the pressure on our growers is only increasing. Minister, where is the support for new orchards? Where are the incentives for new entrants to the industry? Supermarkets across Ireland are crying out for Irish-grown produce. There is a massive appetite for local apples, but our producers simply cannot meet the demand, not because they do not want to but because they cannot afford to. They are crying out for help. Many of our local orchards, which gave us our heritage, need to be grubbed out and replanted. The market has changed. There has been a generational shift. People are not baking apple tarts any more.”
“It is part of the culture. It is a proud tradition. The apple orchards are an integral part of whom we are in Armagh. Today, however, our apple growers are struggling, not because of a lack of passion or skill but because they have been left behind by a system that gives them no support. In the Republic, apple growers can access between 20% and 40% grant aid. They also receive support for plant and equipment. That assistance is helping the Republic's growers and processors expand, modernise and stay competitive. In the North, however, there is no equivalent support. There is zero. Our growers have been forced to compete on an uneven playing field. Some of our growers are even planting new orchards in the South simply because the support is there and not here. They are upping sticks and moving to the South. That cannot be right.”
“We are proud to call Armagh the "Orchard County". It is a name steeped in heritage, having been built on generations of hard work, skill and care. Armagh can trace its relationship with apples back as far as 1,000 BC, because there is evidence that they grew close to our historic Navan Fort. For centuries, families across our county have planted, tended to, harvested and sold the finest apples in Ireland. Armagh's Bramley apples hold protected geographical indication (PGI) status, which they share with Comber potatoes, Lough Neagh eels and champagne. <BR /> <BR />Despite that PGI status, 90% of the apples consumed here are imported. Just 10% are home-grown. Anyone can import apples, but not everyone can plant, grow, nurture and harvest them and then bring them to market. That takes experience, patience and a deep local knowledge.”
“I fully agree with Diona, as, just a few weeks ago, my son and I joined the McGleenan family on the Tullysaran Road near Blackwatertown to help collect a few tons of Armagh's famous Bramley apples. Doing so was wonderful for the mind, the body and the soul, and I also enjoyed some of the apples that we picked, which were uniquely fresh, with a distinct taste.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to bring this Adjournment topic before the Assembly today on a matter that is close to the heart of many families and communities in Armagh, and that is the future of our apple industry. <BR /> <BR />I am standing here beside a Derry girl, and Diona Doherty, another Derry girl, spoke on a recent podcast about a most enjoyable experience with her family picking apples in an "Orchard County" orchard.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Last week, the Infrastructure Committee was updated on the progress of the A28 Armagh east link and A3 Armagh north and west link road schemes. It appears that those vital road projects, which could alleviate congestion in Armagh city, have been shelved and that there is no timeline for their delivery. Why is that? Will the Minister commit to getting those projects back on track and progressing them?”
“Minister, I offer my solidarity to you, your colleagues and your staff following the planting of a bomb outside your office in Newry on Sunday night. It must have been terribly frightening for you and everybody involved. Thank God that the bomb did not go off. I hope that everybody is OK.”
“Minister, according to the Mineral Products Association, the A5 could have been a low-carbon project if proper procedures had been followed. What procedures were not followed, who was responsible and what are the implications for other major road projects?”
“I urge anyone with information that can assist in identifying those responsible to come forward to the police.”
“I am shocked and appalled at the news that a bomb was left at Sinn Féin's office in Newry. The bomb threat, on one of Newry's busiest streets, posed a serious danger to the public and is a total disgrace. My thoughts are with Sinn Féin's office staff, who were put in harm's way at their place of work. That is completely unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />I offer my support to Sinn Féin's local representatives: Dáire, Liz and all the councillors who use the office regularly. They were democratically elected to represent their community yet have been targeted with violence and intimidation. There never has been, and there never will be, any place for that type of violence, thuggery and intimidation in our society. I condemn that atrocious act. Those behind it should be ashamed of themselves.”
“Finally, education and awareness are key. Sliabh Beagh can and should be promoted as a place of pride, a place for responsible tourism and a shared natural heritage. If local communities are empowered and supported, they will be the strongest defenders of the landscape. <BR /> <BR />The fires that rage across Sliabh Beagh are more than flames on a hillside. They are a symbol of how fragile our environment has become. If the Executive are serious about tackling climate change, protecting biodiversity and supporting rural communities, the priority must be safeguarding places such as Sliabh Beagh.”
“That upland does not respect county or jurisdictional lines. A coordinated approach between DAERA, the National Parks and Wildlife Service in the South, local councils and community groups is the only way to ensure effective prevention, monitoring and enforcement. Secondly, we need enhanced fire prevention and rapid response capacity. That means supporting the Fire and Rescue Service, farmers and local volunteers with the resources to act quickly, alongside stronger penalties for those who deliberately light fires. Thirdly, there must be long-term investment in restoration. Re-wetting drained bogs, planting native trees and supporting sustainable farm practices will help protect biodiversity while locking in carbon. Those measures are not just good for the environment but are cost-effective climate actions that are good for humanity.”
“When the bog burns, centuries of stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, wildlife is killed and the land is left scarred for decades. For the communities around Aughnacloy, Emyvale and Knockatallon, those fires bring fear, damage livelihoods and are destructive to the natural assets that should be protected for future generations. Environmental damage also comes in less visible but equally destructive forms such as illegal dumping, reckless off-road vehicle use and the draining of bogland, which undermines its ability to store water and carbon. All that weakens the land, increases flood risk downstream and chips away at the ecological and wildlife assets that should be cherished and protected. <BR /> <BR />What needs to be done? First, there must be a clear cross-border protection strategy for Sliabh Beagh.”
“I rise to highlight the urgent need for greater protection of Sliabh Beagh, one of our most important natural landscapes, from the twin threats of fire and environmental damage. Sliabh Beagh is not just a border upland stretching across Tyrone, Monaghan and Fermanagh; it is a living, breathing ecosystem. Its blanket bogs are a critical carbon store; its woodlands and wetlands are home to rare species; and its open hills are part of our shared ecological heritage. It is a place where people walk, farm and connect with nature, yet, year after year, it comes under attack from fire and neglect. <BR /> <BR />We have seen devastating wildfires in recent years that have destroyed hectares of precious bogland. Those fires are not just accidents of nature; many are caused deliberately.”
“What are you doing to address that? What engagement has your Department had with the Housing Executive to ensure that transfer requests for that reason are recorded as a reportable category in the housing management system?”
“My office and others are experiencing a worrying trend whereby unresolved antisocial behaviour drives families to request transfers, displacing families and adding further pressure to the housing waiting list. Families have often been placed in what they describe as their "dream home" —.”
“Yeah. It's been some joker. Some Shinner joker. Good one, lads.”
“Who nicked my phone? Somebody has stolen my phone.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Who nicked my phone?”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“Almost every part of the blood cancer journey is already administered here in the North. The only missing piece is the CAR T-cell therapy itself. It is a small but crucial part of the treatment, yet its absence forces patients to leave this island at an enormous emotional, physical and financial cost. It makes no sense. We already have the clinicians, the expertise, the demand, the hospital and the accreditations. The Department is paying way more than it should be to send people away when it would cost less to deliver care at home. It is not a question of capacity; it is a question of bureaucracy and priorities. Who are the commissioners of services in the North?”
“The only missing ingredients are funding and political will. <BR /> <BR />I must call out the insensitivity from the Department in its answer to a question from me, speaking of it being "nugatory". We all had to look that word up, but, when we found out its meaning, we thought that it was very insensitive towards the families. <BR /> <BR />The Department of Health has pointed to capacity issues in Dublin as a reason not to pursue cross-border cooperation. That does not hold up. New CAR T-cell therapy services will open in Galway this year. The Department has also said that Belfast will not deliver CAR T-cell therapy until 2030 or 2031. That is five or six years away. For families living with blood cancer, that is a lifetime. They do not have the luxury of waiting.”
“Access to CAR T-cell therapy services in Dublin would be a huge step forward, but the ideal and most sustainable outcome is the delivery of CAR T-cell therapy here in Belfast. Let us be clear: senior clinicians in Belfast City Hospital have said that they want to deliver CAR T-cell therapy here and are fit to do so. The facilities and expertise are already there, they have enough patients to fund the service and Belfast City Hospital already holds international accreditation for stem cell transplants. Only minimal work is required for CAR T-cell therapy accreditation. Clinicians say that CAR T-cell therapy is a vital new frontier of modern medicine and a field of medicine that is rapidly evolving, and they say that the health service here is paying way over the odds for patients to access the service.”