Órlaithí Flynn
West Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />Parliamentary privilege is a complicated issue, but it is a very important one for all Members to understand. It was helpful to get Matthew's intervention on the fact that the repeal changes nothing for Members. It simply takes away the reference to privilege which never fully existed. I thank Matthew for his intervention.”
“My comments will be brief. As Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, I welcome the opportunity to conclude today's debate on the motion to repeal Standing Order 70 and make a number of consequential amendments.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the Chairperson and members of the Committee on Standards and Privileges for undertaking a comprehensive review of Standing Order 70 and for bringing the outcomes of that work to the Committee on Procedures, with the recommendation to make the changes to Standing Orders.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. As you outlined, Minister, a key part of creating a more resilient road network is having the workforce to deliver it. We know that British austerity has severely impacted on our workforce in DFI, creating an over-reliance on contractors and driving up the cost of works as a result.”
“I support the motion, and I thank its sponsors. <BR /> <BR />For many people, the journey to becoming a parent is not straightforward. Whilst some conceive without difficulty, others face years of heartbreak, uncertainty and loss.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have learned that people often talk about IVF as though it guarantees a baby. Tragically, the reality is that that is not always the case. This is not the first motion calling for three cycles of IVF that we have debated.”
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“I ask the Assembly to support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the Chairperson and members of the Committee on Standards and Privileges for undertaking a comprehensive review of Standing Order 70 and for bringing the outcomes of that work to the Committee on Procedures, with the recommendation to make the changes to Standing Orders. <BR /> <BR />I also thank the Chairperson and members of the Committee on Procedures, on which I sit, for the constructive approach to considering not just these changes to Standing Orders but all the other work that we are undertaking. Go raibh maith agat.”
“<BR /> <BR />Parliamentary privilege is a complicated issue, but it is a very important one for all Members to understand. It was helpful to get Matthew's intervention on the fact that the repeal changes nothing for Members. It simply takes away the reference to privilege which never fully existed. I thank Matthew for his intervention. <BR /> <BR />Cathy and our Chairperson have summed up the detail. It is clear that, at the moment, Standing Order 70 is an anomaly, and a compelling case has been made for its repeal. As the Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges indicated, the change will address any ambiguity over what constitutes parliamentary privilege and what should be considered misconduct. The other amendments to the Standing Orders before the House today are required as a consequence of removing Standing Order 70.”
“My comments will be brief. As Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, I welcome the opportunity to conclude today's debate on the motion to repeal Standing Order 70 and make a number of consequential amendments. I thank the Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, Kellie Armstrong, for opening the debate and setting out for the House the consequential amendments that need to be made as a result of the repeal of Standing Order 70. I also thank the Chairperson of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, Cathy Mason, for clearly explaining the issues with Standing Order 70 and setting out the policy work that that Committee undertook and the rationale for concluding that the most appropriate option was to remove Standing Order 70.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. As you outlined, Minister, a key part of creating a more resilient road network is having the workforce to deliver it. We know that British austerity has severely impacted on our workforce in DFI, creating an over-reliance on contractors and driving up the cost of works as a result. I know that the Minister wants to change that. Minister, will you update us on the progress of your recent recruitment campaign for road workers?”
“Given what we are talking about — the potential of creating a new life and giving someone the opportunity to have a wee baby of their own and create their own family — we should do anything that we can do to make that process easier and doable. I know that we have to live in the real world, and there is the question of where we get the money from to expand the provision from one cycle to three. Given that the commitment was agreed in New Decade, New Approach, however, and the fact that we are at a disadvantage compared with other places across these islands, the question is how we can make it happen. <BR /> <BR />I, too, welcome the women in the Public Gallery.”
“Thank you. I completely agree: we absolutely have a two-tier system, and it is stark when it comes to IVF. There are many other examples of the two-tier system, but with IVF, where there is the potential to create a new life and have a wee baby of your own, there are, as has been said, people who can take forward that option if they have the money and others who cannot because they simply do not have the money. Of the people who are paying for it privately, I am sure that many are getting themselves into great debt by using credit cards or borrowing from family members, a credit union or wherever. That is not the space that we want to be in.”
“That is why it is so important and the right thing to do to give any individual or couple that need to undergo IVF to have a baby the best possible chance.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have learned that people often talk about IVF as though it guarantees a baby. Tragically, the reality is that that is not always the case. This is not the first motion calling for three cycles of IVF that we have debated. The motion's sponsors are right that that was agreed under New Decade, New Approach and that we are lagging behind England, Scotland and Wales, where there is access to two and three rounds of IVF respectively. You never know which round is going to be your last chance, and that is if you are even lucky enough to qualify for a round of IVF, so time is precious. The journey is extremely unpredictable and filled with ups and downs. Regrettably, you cannot dictate that the outcome will be a successful pregnancy and a baby.”
“I support the motion, and I thank its sponsors. <BR /> <BR />For many people, the journey to becoming a parent is not straightforward. Whilst some conceive without difficulty, others face years of heartbreak, uncertainty and loss. For those facing infertility, IVF and assisted treatments can offer hope when all other options have been exhausted. As someone who has undergone IVF, I know that the issue is deeply personal. I have spoken publicly about my IVF journey and the loss that I experienced along the way. Like so many others, I know the emotional impact of infertility. I know the anticipation that comes with every appointment, every scan and every phone call, and, sadly, I know about the heartbreak that there is when the treatment does not succeed.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.”
“First Minister, I appreciate that answer. You mentioned the fact that so many visitors will come from all over the world for the fleadh. Do you agree that the festival is not only a huge cultural achievement for Belfast but a huge economic driver?”
“What assurances can you give to those families, who have already been terribly impacted on, that their concerns will be listened to and their loved ones will be placed in the appropriate accommodation that they deserve?”
“I join you, Minister, and Nuala in welcoming the families who are in the Public Gallery. If we feel horrified when reading the report, how do they feel, given that they have been living through that experience with their loved ones? <BR /> <BR />Minister, I am working with members of one of the families, and, after everything that they have endured, they remain anxious about whether their loved one is safe and receiving appropriate care and whether she will ever be placed in the appropriate secure accommodation that she requires. That family, like many others, feels that its battle has not ended with the inquiry report, as the families are still fighting for appropriate services and living arrangements for their loved ones.”
“I thank the First Minister for her response. Earlier today, the Minister of Finance, John O'Dowd, announced £103 million for a second tranche of transformation projects for healthcare, special educational needs, justice and infrastructure. Does the First Minister agree that that is not only welcome investment in public services to transform them but clear evidence of Executive delivery and of what can be achieved when the Executive are properly resourced to deliver for workers and families?”
“They deserve financial redress and redress in terms of their surgeries. They deserve all the support that they can get, and they deserve it now. The Julia Cumberlege report was published in 2020 — six years ago. The rate of progress has been very slow for those women. They have spoken out on really difficult personal issues and are still waiting, so many years later, to see proper progress. <BR /> <BR />I finish by paying special tribute to Mary McLaughlin from Mesh Ireland. I have had the honour and privilege of campaigning alongside that woman for the past 10 years. That is how long the women have been campaigning and shouting about their terrible experiences. I thank Mary for everything that she has done for the mesh-injured community across the island. I sincerely hope that we can see proper progress in the time ahead.”
“Clearly, their voices were not listened to. That is not simply inequality but the reality of medical misogyny. <BR /> <BR />Today, we must acknowledge the courage and determination of all the women who refuse to stay silent. Through tireless campaigning and advocacy, many have helped to bring national attention to the serious risks associated with transvaginal mesh procedures. They have pushed for greater accountability, improved patient safety and better support services. However, while progress has been made, many women still live with the long-term consequences and damage caused by the mesh implants. They continue to struggle to get the specialised support and care that they need. We must ensure that those affected are listened to, treated with dignity and given access to the services and treatments that they need.”
“, May marks Mesh Awareness Month. It is an important opportunity to recognise the experiences of women and families who continue to live with the devastating consequences of pelvic mesh implants. For many women, what was presented as a routine procedure became the beginning of years of chronic pain, trauma and life-changing complications. Women who sought treatment to improve their quality of life instead found themselves facing severe physical pain, loss of mobility, loss of independence and, in many cases, profound impacts on their mental health and well-being. What made those experiences even more distressing is that so many women felt ignored or dismissed when they first raised concerns about the complications that the implants were having in their bodies. Too often, their pain was minimised and dismissed.”
“Families frequently speak about being passed between services, with autism being viewed separately from mental health, when, in reality, the two are often deeply interconnected. However, we do not connect them when we try to deal with people and families. <BR /> <BR />We all recognise that, in this day and age, parents and families should not have to fight so hard simply to be heard and to receive the coordinated support that they desperately need. We need accountability from the Department of Health and across all Departments. We have debated the issue many times, and it cuts across many Departments, particularly Health and Education. Hopefully, the motion today will bring some positive work towards that.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are letting our autistic children and young people down. The long waits, when they do not receive assessments on time or the support that they need, lead to additional anxiety, emotional distress, low self-esteem and a feeling that they are being left behind by systems that should be in place to support them. Sadly, at the moment, that is the case for a large number of children and young people. <BR /> <BR />For many autistic people, those challenges are further compounded by the lack of core care for mental health conditions. Autistic people are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and emotional distress, yet, too often, they encounter mental health services that are not designed with autism in mind.”
“It is really disappointing to see the cases of the kids trying to get their assessments at school and even at nursery level, because we need to intervene as early as possible to try to support our children with autism. The majority of families that I deal with have been knocked back from having an assessment carried out and a support package put in place, regardless of the severity of their child's need. When they get knocked back, most parents do not have the motivation or the energy at times to go through the appeals process, and they do not know how to navigate the whole tribunal system. People do not have the energy, and unless they are supported properly, many families do not go through with the appeals process and the tribunal process. Those are all missed opportunities right across the system, not just in health.”
“Nowhere is that more apparent than in the assessment waiting times and the impact that those delays have on the mental health and well-being not just of the individuals — the children, young people and adults who are awaiting assessment — but of their wider families. It has an emotional impact on the broader family circle. When families wait for years for assessment or support, life does not simply pause in the meantime. <BR /> <BR />I am sure that every MLA has regular contact in their offices with cases of children — many in nursery; some in primary and post-primary school — where their parents know and can see that the child is struggling and not coping well. However, then they have to navigate the whole system of getting their assessments carried out via the health trusts and, then, via the schools.”
“That is particularly important as it was all co-designed with people who have lived experience. Not so long ago, those things were not even being spoken about, and now we are considering a neuroaffirming approach across our public services. That will make a big, big difference. We have to welcome all that good work. Those are important, big steps forward. <BR /> <BR />Obviously, the concern that many families still have is that the progress that we see at a policy level is not always translating into progress in people's daily lives. We know that, for many autistic people and their families, the reality remains one of delay and inconsistency.”
“I am also happy to speak to the motion. I am conscious that a lot of the debate, so far, has focused on the many shortcomings that we see in autism services, but it is important to recognise also that there have been some really positive steps in recent years. Almost every Member who has spoken has mentioned the appointment of the Independent Autism Reviewer. That was a significant development for us locally. The autism strategy 2023-28 has set out an ambitious vision around inclusion, partnership and the improvement of outcomes across health, education, employment and community life. We have also seen progress through the autism and neurodiversity training in our health and social care trusts, alongside the growing recognition of the need for more neuroaffirming approaches across our public services.”
“<BR /> <BR />The event on Thursday night is not simply about remembrance but about ensuring that those who are still fighting for help and support today know that they are seen, heard and valued. I encourage Members, if they are available, to attend the remembrance event in Dromintee on Thursday evening and to stand with Sinead and the wider Boyle family in Seán's memory and in the memory of all those whom we have lost too soon to suicide. Let us recommit ourselves to building a better mental health system that listens, responds and saves lives.”
“<BR /> <BR />Despite increased awareness around mental health, the reality on the ground remains deeply concerning. Too many people in crisis still face long waiting lists, fragmented services and a postcode lottery when it comes to accessing emergency intervention and support. Families are still left to navigate incredibly difficult situations alone. We know that inaction carries a devastating human cost. That is why the campaign for Seán's law remains so important. <BR /> <BR />Today, I pay particular tribute to Sinead Boyle. In the face of unimaginable grief, Sinead has shown extraordinary strength, dignity and determination. She has turned personal tragedy into tireless advocacy, speaking openly about mental health and addiction and challenging all of us here to do better. Her courage is admirable and inspirational.”
“almost exactly one year ago, I stood in the Chamber to speak about Seán's law and the urgent need for better mental health crisis intervention services across our communities. Sadly, we know that the issues remain just as pressing today. <BR /> <BR />On Thursday 14 May, in Dromintee, family, friends and members of the wider community will come together to remember Seán Boyle on what would have been his 30th birthday. It will be a day to honour Seán's life and renew the call for change through Seán's law. Seán was just 24 years old when he tragically died by suicide in June 2020. He was a young man who wanted help. He reached out for support on multiple occasions, but the services that he needed simply where not there when he needed them most.”
“I am conscious that there was a massive announcement last week in relation to women's health. I thank the Minister for the announcement on the mother-and-baby unit. There has been plenty of brilliant feedback. So many women and families are delighted with the announcement. On that subject, will any provision be made for interim measures? The Minister covered a bit of that in his statement. If not, why not?”
“<BR /> <BR />The big thing for me is that, as we know, our whole NHS health system is meant to be based on need, but, at the minute, that principle is clearly not being met, especially when we look at the state of our dental care.”
“<BR /> <BR />The issue of dentists being pushed out of NHS provision has been covered by most of the other Members who have spoken, so we know about the rise in operating costs, the outdated payment model and the absence of any long-term planning. We talk about strategies, Minister, but there is a need for a new oral health strategy. It might not be right up the priority list with all of the other important work that you need to do, but we need some sort of timeline for how we get the work pushed forward, including trying to support workforce planning and the reform of the dental payment system. Those are important and necessary pieces of work. We are still waiting for the cost-of-service review. Is there any update on the funded action plan for reform in dentistry?”
“If someone cannot attend, are they being struck off the list, and is it then harder for them to get back onto it? If the Minister has any information on why those figures are so high, that would be useful. <BR /> <BR />Points have already been raised about the issue of people turning up at emergency departments because they have nowhere else to go. We know that emergency departments are not equipped to deal with chronic dental health conditions. We also know about the issues that they are dealing with when it comes to very young children in particular, some of whom have to go through surgery for their dental condition and end up in an emergency department, which puts additional pressure on our EDs.”
“<BR /> <BR />My colleague Philip McGuigan mentioned the lapsed registrations in his constituency. I am worried about those figures. I am not sure whether the Minister will be able to touch on some of the detail in his response, but, in West Belfast last year alone, there were 29,606 lapsed registrations. I want a wee bit of clarity on why those numbers are so high, because I am not sure what the reason is, but it is obviously pointing to an issue. On the one hand, we are dealing with people who are coming to our offices because they cannot get registered with a dental practice, and, on the other hand, there are thousands of people who are coming off that dental system altogether and just being lost from it. I do not know whether that is linked to "could not attends". I do not even know whether it is the same sort of system.”
“What we are discussing here today is not just dentistry; it is equality and access to basic healthcare. Our constituents deserve a health service that works for everyone, not just those who can afford to go private. The reality that people face is deeply concerning. As has been mentioned, we know that only around half of adults here are registered with an NHS dentist. That clearly points to a system that is moving in the wrong direction. It is also often the case — Sinéad just made the point — that it is those in working-class and deprived communities, such as Foyle, West Belfast and North Belfast, who are hardest hit. As an MLA for West Belfast, I am contacted pretty regularly by constituents who simply cannot access an NHS dentist for themselves or their family.”
“You have no vision, no support and nothing to offer our communities. Our communities deserve to live in peace. They continue to move forward into a better future; everyone here deserves that. Sinn Féin will engage with the community in the days and weeks ahead and provide any support needed to local residents, who deserve to live safely in their homes and in peace.”
“It is clear, as has been said, that the overwhelming majority of people who live in this part of Ireland reject such actions. They understand that they achieve absolutely nothing but disruption. Whoever was behind the attack, the only thing that they achieved was disruption, fear, annoyance and distress to local families, young children and babies — to the Dunmurry community and wider afield. Families and young children were being evacuated from their homes when the device went off. Some elderly residents could not even leave their homes and were terrified. We are very lucky that we are not dealing with a more serious outcome this morning. <BR /> <BR />The Dunmurry community and the local delivery driver went through a terrible ordeal. They were left shaken and scared, and whoever was behind that incident must leave the scene now.”
“I welcome the matter being raised in the Assembly Chamber today. I spent yesterday afternoon in the Dunmurry area along with some of my colleagues in Sinn Féin, speaking to the police and to the local residents who, disgracefully, were forced out of their homes in those circumstances. Sinn Féin cannot be any clearer, and we have been clear and consistent in our response to the incident at the weekend. The people behind the absolutely horrendous attack on Saturday evening have nothing to offer our society. It is as clear and as simple as that. Their attack was horrendous, and they have nothing to offer. They represent no one, and they are completely devoid of support.”
“It is about how to distinguish in each circumstance between the bad, the good and the vulnerable, which is difficult to do. <BR /> <BR />The issue that we are debating is extremely important. Pauline and families whom I am working with locally are living it. I will reflect on one wee thing. Sometimes, when you campaign on an issue and work alongside a family who are living it, you are close to it, you are working on it all the time and you understand the importance of the campaign, but I met a school —.”
“The issue that is being exposed is important. We need to be careful about how we discuss and debate such sensitive issues. On the one hand, we are dealing with sensitivities around the anger, frustration and disgust felt towards the criminals. The words "death pushers" and "preying on the vulnerable" have been used, because that is what drug dealers do: they prey on vulnerable people. They get younger people and vulnerable people into a mix of addiction, drug dealing and criminality. It is about how we can talk about that realistically, given what people are dealing with. There are the absolute criminals who play their part in killing people, and there are the vulnerable people who fall into the throes of addiction, whose own lives end up in the gutter. That is why they run in bad people's circles.”
“I am sorry that they are going through that pain, but fair play and well done to Pauline for all the work that she has put in.”
“Like others, I begin by applauding and commending Pauline Duddy for her campaign on behalf of her daughter and, potentially, every other young person, older person or individual who might be impacted by this issue. It has become Pauline's reality, because she is living it after losing her daughter. I thank her for her campaign. I have had the honour of working closely alongside some families in West Belfast, and one bereaved mother in particular, who lost her son to drugs, is in my mind. I have become very close to that family and seen the impact it has had, not only on the mother, whose life has been destroyed, but on the whole family, including her kids and grandkids. It sends a ripple effect right through a family for generations.”
“No one wants to be in a situation where they are dealing with a loss of life that is caused by a scrambler or an e-scooter, whether that be the person using those vehicles or the people who may come to harm on our streets. If there is any support that we can give to the police and parents as a result of the motion, or if we can strengthen legislation and regulations, let us do it so that no one else loses their life.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am grateful that we are having this discussion today. I do not want to take away from one element or another, but legislation will be very important to bring us to a better place. I am thinking about the young girl in the South who lost her life and what her poor family is going through. The South is slightly behind us, in that we have legislation that makes scramblers on public roads illegal, but we need to do much more, and education will be so important. <BR /> <BR />I want to make a special appeal to parents. None of us does things perfectly, but as a parent, I ask you to be aware of the dangers to your child when they ride on a scrambler or an e-scooter, as well as to the local community.”
“<BR /> <BR />When I am driving to work or taking my son to school, or when people in my constituency and in constituencies like mine are going about their daily business, it is so frustrating to see one of those scramblers flying at speed right up to the tail of your car. It is so dangerous when they drive in between lanes or alongside you. They are swerving between lanes and pulling out in front of your car. Most of our roads in West Belfast are main thoroughfares, but we have some country roads as well. Regardless of where those incidents take place, they are so dangerous. They pose a danger not just for drivers but for pedestrians who are going about their business, walking on the footpath or crossing the road. There are so many opportunities for causing injuries or — please God, no one wants to see it — further loss of life.”
“Every time that I see a scrambler in West Belfast, which is pretty regularly, it takes me back — it is probably the same for anyone who sees them — to what happened to that girl. That is why we must do all that we can by way of regulation, education with parents, enforcement of legislation and supporting the PSNI to have the resources to be able to enforce the law. The PSNI has spoken about its capacity to chase scramblers up and down the roads and the dangers that go with that. When you live in an area where that is a pretty regular occurrence, you understand why it is very difficult to manage.”
“That poor young mother of three kids lost her life as a result of the issue that we are talking about today. Since that happened, I cannot help but think about those kids, that girl's husband and her family, who will forever live with the pain of what happened on that day. That is the reality that we are dealing with. <BR /> <BR />When Mark Durkan opened the debate, he talked about the essence of the motion, which is what we can do better to deal with the matter. It genuinely comes down to the fact that there is potential for loss of life. That is how serious it is. Mark mentioned the near misses, and we see those happening regularly in our constituencies, on our roads and streets. That mother lost her life and her children no longer have their mummy with them, and that breaks my heart every time that I think about it.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to this important motion. It was interesting to hear my colleague Emma Sheerin provide feedback that the issue does not necessarily affect all our constituencies. I have not really taken any time to step away from West Belfast to think about how the issue might impact on different parts of the North and the island. I am relieved and pleased to hear that not all our communities are blighted. It is a very difficult and frustrating issue to try to deal with, so I am glad that not everyone has to. <BR /> <BR />That said, it is having an impact on communities. As a West Belfast representative, I acknowledge, as has been mentioned, the devastating loss of life that we witnessed, not so long ago, in 2016.”
“At its meeting on Thursday of last week, the Health Committee had a discussion with the Royal College of Psychiatrists on the pressures that it faces with its workforce and waiting lists. Importantly, we had a discussion about vulnerable people who are left waiting without the live-saving care and support that they need. <BR /> <BR />We are speaking today about the same types of issues for people presenting at emergency departments. Does the Minister have any sense of how many people present to emergency departments in mental health crisis and, in many instances — I am sure that Members all know of examples from their constituencies — leave without support and end up worse or, potentially, dead?”
“With respect, deputy First Minister, what is baffling is the fact that people are struggling and feeling the impact of that war locally. They would have appreciated a direct answer to my question, but that was not one. <BR /> <BR />Does the deputy First Minister agree that, in the context of the increasing cost of living, including the rising cost of home heating oil and fuel, the response of the British Government has been woefully inadequate?”
“Minister, I have been informed that the publication of the quarterly child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) data has been paused until quality assurance is undertaken. You referenced that in your original answer to John Blair. Can you elaborate a bit more on why that is the case or why that process is being taken forward?”