Linda Dillon
Mid Ulster · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“It is important to have that acknowledgement for the sake of history — so that the generations who come after us will understand what happened to you and what you went through. It is also important for our present and future: we must make sure that what happened to those women, girls and children never happens again.”
“I begin by offering the apologies of my colleague Carál Ní Chuilín, who cannot be here today owing to ill health. Carál has been very much invested in the work on the legislation. The Bill is very important to her, given the work that she does in the Assembly and the people with whom she has personally worked and engaged over many years.”
“My colleague Áine is the Member who probably comes closest to having a true understanding of what you have had to live with and endure, and continue to live with and endure, because it has affected, and will affect, you all your life, and we know that those effects are transgenerational. I acknowledge that.”
“We can never allow that to happen. <BR /> <BR />You showed bravery by speaking up. You spoke up, yes, so that people would know what had happened to you, but you also spoke up so that it would not happen to others.”
“Some lived to see the beginning of the campaign but not the Bill getting to this stage. Many did not even see the beginning of the campaign and did not believe that, in their lifetime — or anyone else's lifetime, for that matter — there would be an acknowledgement of what happened to them.”
“I apologise for not being in the House from the beginning of the statement and thank you for your latitude on that. <BR /> <BR />Thank you, Minister. You have outlined some of the benefits that Waterways Ireland ownership can bring to waterways and local communities.”
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“As we all know, many of those carers are women, and women make up the backbone of paid and unpaid care in our community. It is high time that those women and, indeed, all carers are fairly compensated and that their work is recognised and respected. <BR /> <BR />The situation in rural areas such as those in my constituency of Mid Ulster is even more dire. The inequality of healthcare access between urban and rural areas is stark. People living in rural communities face a healthcare system that is harder to access, with fewer resources and longer waiting times. The distance to services and lack of transport options create additional barriers, leaving rural residents to struggle for the care that they deserve. That inequality is unacceptable. Everyone, regardless of where they live, must have equal access to healthcare services.”
“I support the motion and the amendment on the deepening crisis in our health service. It is not just about numbers; it is about real lives, real communities and the future of healthcare across the North. The cracks in our system are most visible in social care, which forms the foundation of our healthcare services. Each and every one of the chief executives, when they gave evidence to the Health Committee, said that that was their single greatest challenge. <BR /> <BR />Without a well-supported social care system, our entire health service will continue to buckle under pressure. Carers who tirelessly provide essential services for our elderly, disabled and vulnerable citizens face increasing challenges. They are undervalued, underfunded and, too often, undersupported as they carry the weight of a broken system on their shoulders.”
“I thank the Minister for bringing the strategy to the House today. It is long-awaited but very welcome, and I am glad to hear about all the work that has been done and has been put in by all of those most impacted. <BR /> <BR />Minister, we know that there needs to be a justice response and that we need to support all of the victims, but the most important thing is to ensure that there are not victims or perpetrators in the first place and to protect all of those who end up in those circumstances. Minister, do you have confidence that all of the Ministers and all of the Departments are fully bought in to the strategy and will work in collaboration across Departments, with statutory partners and with the community and voluntary sector to deliver the strategy?”
“As the deputy First Minister said, the cases are complex and historical. I have two questions. First, can we get information in writing about what exactly has been done to speed up the process? Secondly, given that they are historical cases and that many of the people affected are nearing the end of their life, can we get some reassurances about what is being done to ensure that those people are prioritised in the process?”
“I thank the Minister for the statement. As a resident who lives close to the shores of Lough Neagh in the beautiful area of Washing Bay, this issue is really close to my heart. You rightly focused heavily on the issue of agricultural discharge. We also saw a shocking BBC exposé of the hundreds of environmental breaches by Moy Park. Does your plan include details of regulations and penalties for companies and corporations that contribute to the polluting of the lough?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. There are many positive initiatives in it that will benefit the people of my constituency and the businesses of Mid Ulster. <BR /> <BR />I am particularly interested in the Minister's commitments to review provision for young people with special educational needs post 19. Minister, you said that you will need to work collaboratively with other Departments. What conversations have you had with colleagues, and are you getting positive feedback from them? On that note, I thank you for meeting Alma White, who is campaigning on the issue on behalf of her son, Caleb, and the many other young people who are in that situation.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. As a representative of Mid Ulster who is from the Coalisland area, I have a specific interest in the Blackwater where it goes into Lough Neagh and in the extension of the Ulster canal. Coalisland has a rich history around that. Minister, on the back of your previous answers, can you tell us whether the Irish Government will work with you on access to Lough Neagh through the Blackwater and coming the other way? Lough Neagh Rescue has a real problem in accessing the River Blackwater in order to be part of rescue efforts when somebody gets into trouble.”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her statement. I agree with her on green growth, and I declare an interest. I have a specific interest in the economic impact and benefits of that in Mid Ulster. The deputy First Minister also outlined the health benefits, particularly around clean air and the need to engage stakeholders. Can she give us some idea of what that engagement will look like? Will it be with the Health Department and other Departments and with NGOs and advocacy groups?”
“It is very positive to hear that you seriously want to tackle inequalities, Minister. Given your response, do you agree that funding should follow need? We do not need to reinvent the wheel, as there are already some fantastic projects that are funded through the Community Foundation via the Department. Do you agree that the Community Foundation needs to continue to fund organisations that work on the ground in communities and that understand the place where they are working and the people with whom they are dealing?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement, in which there is a lot of positive stuff. Minister, as you know, we met the Oireachtas Committee last week, and I thank you for taking a few moments to come up and meet us. On both sides of the border, North and South, women's health has, as you know, suffered greatly as a result of inequalities. Did you and Minister Donnelly have any conversations about women's health? If not, are there plans for the issue to be included in the upcoming work programme in order to address all aspects of women's health, including maternal health, reproductive health, cancer and heart health? All those issues are a real challenge for women because of inequalities.”
“We had allied health professionals in front of us at the Health Committee last week. They raised some concerns about whether conversations were happening about the provision for children with special educational needs. Minister, although I appreciate that you are having an end-to-end review — the work that has been done by your Department is really positive — will you outline the conversations that are happening with the Health Department? Will it invest in those allied health professionals to ensure that support is there for children? Parents are really nervous about what is going on at the moment.”
“I thank the First Minister for her statement. As others outlined, the statement will be welcomed by victims and survivors, who have suffered for many years, particularly the women and their adult children. First Minister, you outlined that you met members of the Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum yesterday. Can you confirm that victims and survivors will have access to the consultation document before anyone else?”
“Minister, will you outline what, if anything, your Department is doing to support unpaid carers either going back into the workplace or remaining there so that they can continue with their opportunities in life?”
“Thank you, First Minister, for that answer. It will come as a great relief to many victims and survivors of mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses that this is finally moving forward. Can you give us an assurance that, as has been the case in the past, victims and survivors will be central to the consultation and that they will be made aware of what is in the statement before it is made to the House?”
“We need to make sure that we work hard together to be able to implement those screening programmes, to be able to target them at where they are needed and to be able to have the diagnostics and, hopefully, the treatments and cures for the people who may, unfortunately, be future sufferers of cancer. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I must point out that we need to be looking at prevention, and research will help us with that. I thank Members for their support for the motion and the amendment.”
“Yes. I will make sure that I put it up again this evening on my Facebook page. I absolutely will. Macmillan is a vital organisation. It needs our support, and we need to support it. It is important to point that out. <BR /> <BR />As the Chairperson of the Health Committee outlined, the Committee, jointly with the Oireachtas Health Committee, will be going to the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research at Queen's University. On that visit, we will see at first hand the work that is being done. A fantastic event was held here last year by Cancer Research that showcased some of its work on diagnostics, screening programmes and all the other amazing stuff that it is doing.”
“I am doing it along with hundreds and hundreds of people, some of whom will be patients who are perhaps undergoing cancer treatment, some of whom will be survivors and some of whom will be family members.”
“I will highlight the three recommendations in the report: an all-island oncology innovation cluster; supportive infrastructure; and funding for research and development. I look forward to engaging with the Minister, because, as he has said, there is a lot of good work going on. We need, however, to do more of it, to do it better and to fund it. <BR /> <BR />I thank all those who contributed to the debate. I do not need to go over everybody's points, because we are very much on the same page. I thank Diane Dodds for referring to Macmillan, which is a vital organisation for providing support to those who are suffering from cancer and to their families who are trying to support them through it. This Saturday, 22 June, I am doing a marathon walk — 26 miles — for Macmillan, and I am happy for anybody to sponsor me.”
“It is down to the work that is being done that, hopefully, many of our family members and the people whom we love and care about will survive. <BR /> <BR />As I said, I know that my story is only one of many. We must therefore use our resources effectively and work together on an all-island basis to deliver research and innovative diagnoses and treatments so that other families are luckier than mine and get a diagnosis and the most effective treatment. We have a dedicated and talented pool of people doing amazing work in our universities, communities and hospitals, and we need to give them the support to deliver for our people. Without research, we would not have the screening programmes that have saved so many lives.”
“It also highlighted the importance of collaborative working to ensure that we have better support and outcomes for people. I stand here having lost my mummy to stomach cancer. Unfortunately, by the time it was diagnosed, it was too late. I know that my story is one of so many, as has been displayed in the Chamber today. We heard from Stewart Dickson, who is, thankfully, a survivor and doing well. We heard from Colin McGrath, who, as a very young man, lost his daddy. We heard from my colleague Pat Sheehan, who had to deliver the devastating news to his little boy, who is now a grown man, but, from that age, he has never known life with his mummy. There are many others in the Chamber. I pay tribute to Alan. I hope that your parent does well.”
“By establishing oncology innovation clusters, we can attract both domestic and international investment, driving forward groundbreaking research and bringing us closer to finding cures and better treatments for cancer. We have already seen that through the Shared Island Fund. Greater cooperation can lead to standardised best practice, ensuring that all patients, regardless of their location, receive the highest quality of care. We have already seen the benefits of North/South collaboration to cancer research and care, as a number of Members who spoke previously outlined. <BR /> <BR />Many of us will have attended the recent launch of the Cancer Charities Coalition. It made clear that we need to do better for everyone who has cancer. It is right.”
“By pooling resources and expertise across the island, we can significantly enhance our research capabilities. Themes 1 and 2 of our cancer strategy would greatly benefit from collaborative working. Those themes engage prevention, diagnostics and treating cancer. By working together, we can tackle cancer more effectively, benefiting all people and aiming, as the Minister said, "For better outcomes". Those are his three words, and they are three good words to live your life by in the Chamber. At the end of the day, for people right across the island, that is what matters. <BR /> <BR />Ministers need to give leadership. We need to work together and support the professionals who are telling us that this will work and will save lives.”
“I thank the Minister for coming here. I am one of the sponsors of this essential motion on cancer research, which was inspired by the recent report from the AIl-Island Cancer Research Institute. <BR /> <BR />The motion underscores the critical need for greater cooperation in oncology research on the island of Ireland and highlights the potential benefits of developing oncology innovation clusters. It calls for meaningful engagement between the Department of Health and its counterpart in Dublin. That collaboration aims to foster innovative research into cancer prevention, treatments and interventions. We are all well aware of the financial constraints that the Health Department has to work within, as were outlined by the Minister, and the challenges that he has, so we need to use what we have to the greatest benefit of the people.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, you spoke about the recent fish kills. The concerns that people have around these issues are about whether NIEA takes it seriously or has the resource to do something about it. I have had many complaints about it being maybe two days after the report of a fish kill before somebody comes out to look at it. That is not good for anybody. Minister, can you confirm that you are content that NIEA has the powers but, perhaps, does not have the resources?”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for her response. Based on the responses to that consultation, might you revisit it and consider bringing forward legislation on ill-health retirement and injury on duty? We do not want a system where we have two separate processes, because you could have one officer going through two separate processes.”
“I thank the Minister and his Department for the work that they have done on the A5. I do not think that we need to reiterate the horror that has been visited on many families, not least those in my area. <BR /> <BR />I am grateful for the work that the Minister is doing to make sure that there are no further legal challenges, but can he confirm whether there have been conversations with the road safety board and the PSNI about what can be done to keep the road and the people using it as safe as possible in the interim?”
“It is about a change of mindset from all of us in the Chamber, because we are the leadership, and if we have a change of mindset and culture, we will find that that will roll down into our education establishments, the health system and every other part of life: our economy, our communities and our justice system. Play is important, and we need to take it seriously.”
“If we want to have a better future, because — remember what I said — children are 100% of our future, and if we want them and, in turn, everyone coming behind them to have a better future, we need to take the importance of play seriously. We need to have a policy and a framework. <BR /> <BR />We are behind every other part of these islands, and that is not good enough. At one time, we were ahead of some parts. We were ahead of Scotland, but Scotland is way ahead of us now. That is not good enough, so we need to look at that. The last time that a policy framework was in place was in 2006. Perhaps we do not need something new. Perhaps we just need to look at what was there, at why it was not implemented, at what was implemented and at what we can do better.”
“We as a Government must support them and have a policy and a framework in place to ensure that every child has accessible play. <BR /> <BR />My local council, Mid Ulster District Council, now has a policy in place to ensure that there is at least one item of accessible equipment in any new play park or in play parks where refurbishment is being carried out. That is nowhere near enough, however, for the children in our community who need more accessible play. We therefore must ensure that there are better policies from my council and every other council across the North. Additional funding is not required for most of this. Most of it is simply about a change of mindset and culture. It is about our belief in the importance of play for our children.”
“I have just come from an event upstairs marking International Day of Play. We are often accused of not playing fairly or well with one another in the Chamber, but, in truth, this is a really important day. It is important for our children and young people, because, as was said at the event, they make up 25% of our population but 100% of our future. Play is really important for their education and mental well-being and for giving them the skills for their future for the jobs that they will be able to do in our economy. Most importantly, however, play is about their well-being and resilience. We need to ensure that every child has access to play. That means that all children, no matter where they live, what their abilities or disabilities are or what challenges they have in life, should have the capacity to play.”
“The previous Minister gave assurances that every inch of the hospitals and buildings that we have is needed. Minister, can you give us assurances that you will bring staff and the community with you when you look at where services will be delivered? We need all the hospitals, but we also need to know where the services will be.”
“Let us honour that principle by ensuring transparency, justice and the protection of those who seek to illuminate the truth.”
“As Ida B Wells-Barnett, the renowned American investigative journalist and civil rights leader, stated:”
“<BR /> <BR />Much more remains to be done to allay public concerns about the use of police powers in recent years. I note that the Chief Constable confirmed in his statement yesterday that he is initiating an independent review that will be led by Angus McCullough. Any inquiry or investigation into the use of surveillance must be thorough, impartial and transparent. It should investigate the extent of unlawful practices, identify those responsible and recommend measures to prevent such abuses in the future. <BR /> <BR />The Policing Board has been relentless in pursuing police surveillance of journalists and lawyers and will continue to pursue it. Sinn Féin will continue to seek answers through the Policing Board and directly with the PSNI.”
“In addition to the severe ethical and legal implications, we must consider the financial cost of the surveillance activities and the subsequent fallout from them. The resources used on unlawfully monitoring journalists and paying compensation for doing so could have been put to better use. Recent and, indeed, ongoing reports have surfaced alleging that the PSNI has been involved in spying on journalists and legal professionals in the North. Amnesty International has issued a guide for journalists who suspect that they have been under PSNI surveillance. Again, that highlights the severity of the situation. The Chief Constable addressed some recent concerns in his statement yesterday, and a report will come to the Policing Board on Thursday. The Chief Constable has made it clear that that report will be published for the public to view.”
“The issue has raised critical questions about the PSNI's conduct and the broader implications for press freedom in our society. The protection of journalists from unlawful surveillance is of the utmost importance to our democracy and values. We need to know how police powers were abused in recent years, how they are used now and how they will be used in the future. We have called on the Chief Constable to address those serious concerns. The PSNI must explain its actions and how and why police powers were used. The Chief Constable must also provide assurances that the rights of journalists, legal representatives and other professionals will be respected and protected at all times.”
“Sinn Féin, along with others on the Policing Board, has raised those concerns repeatedly and has sought answers.”
“I declare an interest as a member of the Policing Board. <BR /> <BR />We know that two journalists, Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, were victims of unlawful surveillance by the PSNI and received substantial compensation after an unnecessarily prolonged period. We know that the PSNI targeted the journalists rather than targeting its resources towards investigating what was revealed in the documentary about the atrocity in Loughinisland, in which six innocent people were killed. That raises this question: what do we not yet know? Were other journalists, NGOs or lawyers targeted by unlawful surveillance? <BR /> <BR />The unlawful surveillance of journalists is deeply troubling and warrants our attention and action. It is vital that we ensure that police powers are not used to break the law.”
“I apologise to the Minister, because I missed the start of his statement. Apologies for that, Minister, and congratulations on your new role. I am sure that we will work well together, as we did on the Policing Board. <BR /> <BR />I agree with you, Minister, about what constitutes a "good job". Unfortunately, many of our healthcare workers are not experiencing the vision that was outlined. Many of them feel underpaid and undervalued, yet they continue to give a high level of service. Will you outline your plans to support them and, more importantly, to provide strong leadership for a workforce that has felt unsupported and a bit leaderless?”
“Minister, can you give us a guarantee that, going forward, you will engage with victims of historical clerical abuse and historical institutional abuse? The law has a massive impact on them, and a number of them have contacted me about it.”
“I thank the Speaker for his kind comments about the tragedy that happened at the weekend. It was an immeasurable tragedy for Fiachra's mummy and daddy, Fiona and Shane, and his brothers and sisters, Dearbhla, Roisín, Méabh, Dáithí and Dualtách. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all and the entire family circle of the Gildernew and Ó’Faoláin families. No words can express the devastation that was visited on the family this past weekend, but I am certain that they will appreciate the gesture by the Speaker in the House today. Go raibh mile maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.”
“Minister, having met many victims and survivors of abuse in mother-and-baby institutions, you will be well aware that they are very nervous and anxious to know when the Bill on mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses might come forward. Will you outline the timeline for the publication of the Bill?”
“We must not forget the importance of integrating social care into our primary care strategies, recognising that health and well-being are intrinsically linked to social factors. It is only by doing that that we will genuinely improve health outcomes for all, particularly those in our marginalised and deprived communities.”
“Likewise, it is vital that the Department works closely with our community pharmacists and invests in a sustainable funding model to protect that service.”
“In order to truly enhance primary care provision, it is vital that we see an increase in social prescribing and, crucially, the ability of health and social care professionals to develop links with early support services — again, it is about the early intervention and prevention services — to protect our people and keep them well, rather than keep them sick. Social prescribers can help to reach more marginalised and vulnerable groups in our communities, and that could have a transformative impact on health inequalities and improve outcomes for the health of our people. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that the Minister has worked with GPs in recent times to deal with the indemnity issue, and he has come to some interim solutions for that, but we need a long-term solution.”
“Those challenges are often exacerbated by social determinants of health, such as poverty, homelessness and social isolation, which can impact on an individual's ability to access and engage with healthcare services effectively. I made that point at a meeting today with the strategic planning and performance group (SPPG). It is not a case that people are hard to reach; it is that services are difficult to access for some people. We need to ensure that we deliver services in the places where people need them, and that is in their communities, where they can easily access them. <BR /> <BR />The broader social care landscape must be addressed, and that includes investing in community-based support services, such as social work, physiotherapy and health visiting, which are essential components of a comprehensive primary care system.”
“The motion rightly emphasises the invaluable contributions of those working in primary care across the North, but attention also needs to be drawn to the interconnectedness of primary and social care services, both of which are essential pillars of our healthcare system. Primary care providers, including our GPs, nurses, mental health practitioners and our community pharmacy, play a crucial role in addressing our communities' healthcare needs. However, it is vital to recognise that many individuals who require primary care services also have complex social care needs, and that must be addressed in order to ensure holistic well-being. <BR /> <BR />The challenges that primary care services face, including the strain on local practices that seek crisis support, must not be underestimated.”
“Let us honour that sentiment by acting as responsible stewards of our environment and ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for all.”
“<BR /> <BR />Any independent EPA must be fully independent and equipped with the powers necessary to take on major polluters. While we appreciate the work that individuals on the OEP have done, it is simply not fit for purpose as an environmental watchdog here. The North needs a bespoke body that will focus entirely on matters here and work in tandem with the EPA and agencies in the rest of Ireland to protect and preserve our shared environment. <BR /> <BR />Let us remember the words of Oscar Wilde:”