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 thank the Minister for his statement. The word "regrettable" has been used a number of times by a number of representatives. I am going to use the word "disgrace". It is a disgrace that this piece of proposed legislation has been blocked. It has continued to be blocked at the Executive by the DUP. We have the opportunity and potential to save people's lives. People continue to die because of alcohol, year-on-year. Since 2014, there has been an 80% increase in the number of deaths due to alcohol. It rose to 397 in 2024. We now have an opportunity to change that and save lives. Minister, do you share my disbelief and frustration that the DUP would block this legislation, which gives us the opportunity to save lives?”
“The commitments outlined in the motion must translate into measurable progress, improved access to services and a real change to outcomes for women across the North, because, when women's health is neglected, the impact is felt in homes, schools and workplaces across every community that we represent. The women whom we represent deserve better, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they finally get it.”
“<BR /> <BR />The absence of a fully resourced and comprehensive women's health strategy continues to result in inconsistent care across the life course. Women not only deserve but need services that are joined-up, preventative and accessible, at every stage of their lives. We can appreciate the undeniable pressures on our health service and the fact that services are stretched, but it is often women's health that is pushed to the margins. That cannot continue. Women should not be the only ones to carry the burden of systemic failure. We need urgent action, clear timelines for reform and genuine engagement with women who have lived experience of navigating the system. Most importantly, we need to have political leadership that recognises women's health as a core priority, not a secondary concern.”
“A truly equitable health system must provide equitable and accessible specialist services in which there is an understanding of the unique needs of our women. <BR /> <BR />Mental health support for new and expectant mothers is another area where gaps remain. The need for a properly resourced mother-and-baby unit and specialist perinatal services is clear. Women experiencing severe postnatal mental health difficulties must be able to access care that allows them to remain with their babies, in a safe and supported therapeutic environment, rather than being separated from their newborn babies, as happens at the moment. That is essential for their recovery, for their bonding with their babies and for long-term family well-being.”
“It is not about biology alone; it is about gender bias in research and clinical pathways and how women's symptoms are understood. At the same time, inequality is felt in everyday life. Period poverty remains a reality for too many girls and women. The fact that women are still struggling to access basic sanitary products in 2026 is a stark reminder that health inequality is deeply connected to social and economic injustice. <BR /> <BR />We must also recognise the growing crisis in addiction services for women. Women experiencing substance dependency often face additional stigma, barriers to treatment, childcare pressures and the fear of being judged, followed by potential involvement with social services. Gender-specific addiction support remains limited, despite the clear links between trauma, mental health and substance use.”
“<BR /> <BR />Early diagnosis and intervention would save not only suffering but long-term costs to our health service. The inequality does not stop there: evidence shows that women are more likely than men to experience delayed diagnosis after a heart attack, less likely to receive timely, guideline-recommended treatment and more likely to die following a cardiac event.”
“Women who trusted the health service to improve their quality of life found themselves living with chronic pain, life-changing complications and, in many cases, a long battle simply to be believed. To date, not one of those women has received a single penny by way of redress. Many have yet to have those damaging devices removed, which are now stuck on their organs like chewing gum. Their experiences should have been a turning point: a moment when women's voices were finally placed at the centre of healthcare policy. However, many women feel that the lessons have not been fully learned. Conditions such as endometriosis continue to be under-diagnosed and under-treated. Women are routinely told that their pain is normal, that they simply must cope and that long waiting lists are inevitable. There is nothing inevitable about systemic neglect.”
“I thank the proposer of the motion. As chair of the all-party group on women's health, I speak today about not only policy failure but the lived reality of women across our communities who are being failed by our health service every single day. <BR /> <BR />Women here in the North continue to face profound inequalities in access to timely, safe and compassionate healthcare. The issues are not new; they are well documented, long-standing and deeply systemic. We know that women are waiting too long for gynae appointments, diagnostic tests and treatment. In many cases, those delays mean prolonged pain, deteriorating mental health and a loss of dignity. I highlight the devastating legacy of transvaginal mesh.”
“Our health and social care workers deserve fairness and consistency right across the system, and patients and families deserve a health service that removes unnecessary burdens when they need care.”
“<BR /> <BR />The key question that we must ask ourselves today is a simple one: what would another delay mean in practice? We have heard about the £7 million in lost revenue per year. It would also mean continued uncertainty for many health and social care workers, and it would mean that patients and families who rely on hospitals will continue to face additional costs when attending their appointments. The Assembly has already expressed its view on the matter, and the Department has recognised the need to implement the legislation. The Minister has mentioned taking the necessary steps and, please God, we can do that. The focus now needs to be on ensuring that the work continues so that these arrangements can be delivered.”
“<BR /> <BR />While some arrangements have been put in place in recent years to support our staff, there is still, as has been pointed out, a kind of postcode lottery, and the situation is the not the same in every trust, because, as a health and social care worker, you cannot necessarily avail yourself of one of those permits or access parking free of charge at your place of work. That is another big inconsistency that the legislation was designed to address, and we still need to work towards that. Trade unions highlighted the fact that abolishing parking charges would recognise the vital work of our health and social care staff and support recruitment and retention, which, again, is something that everybody in the Chamber wants to see.”
“<BR /> <BR />Gerry touched earlier on the fact that many households are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and the whole financial situation, not just the health service. Everyone is feeling it. Additional costs, through any avenue, are putting an additional burden on people, and that includes the additional cost of paying for car parking. Health professionals have raised concerns that parking costs can become a barrier for vulnerable patients. Diane touched on how people with addictions and mental health issues already face barriers when attending hospital appointments. Removing parking charges will mean that those patients can focus on their treatment and recovery without additional financial worry.”
“That was the intention behind the legislation, and that is the reason why we should all be motivated to make sure that we do all that we can to get it over the line no matter what it takes. We know that, for many patients and families who are attending hospital — some, unfortunately, on regular occasions — it is a very stressful and difficult experience. We know that people are travelling long distances for their appointments, travelling regularly for treatment or going to support loved ones who are seriously ill, and, in those circumstances, the additional cost of hospital parking can quickly add up, particularly for those who need to attend the hospital frequently. I know that all those points were made previously when the legislation was first debated, but it is really important to repeat them.”
“I will bring my comments back to the impact on people. There has been some talk about front-line services. Colin was right when he spoke about the £7 million. It was unclear, at times, whether the £7 million that was garnered in charges was going directly to front-line services. We talk about the heart of the issue and the people affected by this, and, while it is affecting people on the front line, it is also affecting people who use the health service every day, including patients who are travelling to hospital for treatment, families who are travelling to hospitals to see their loved ones and workers who are caring for people, saving their lives and treating them in really difficult circumstances. That is at the heart of all of this.”
“It is also important to say that the Department has not opposed the Bill; it has recognised the need to implement it. The Minister made his remarks. We need to consider what steps we need to take next to ensure that we can deliver on it. I appreciate where the Minister is with his budget. He talks about trying to create a sustainable and stable health service. Yes, that is where we all want to get to — every one of us, as elected representatives, in the Chamber. Who the hell is going to argue against that? Yes, we support the need and drive to get to that point. Hopefully, as we said, all the work that has been done and the millions of pounds that have been put into getting the car parking infrastructure in place will hold us in good stead when we can fully deliver on the legislation.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is worth reminding ourselves that, when we originally debated the Bill in the Assembly, almost four years ago, it passed with the support of all the main parties. It is not a fair representation to say that it was something that Sinn Féin landed on the Minister of Health. That is not fair, and it is not reflective of the process. The Minister has supported the intent of the legislation. I do not think that he has said anything different to that, even in his remarks this evening. <BR /> <BR />It is important to note that, since the legislation was passed four years ago, as has been explained, the Department has had the opportunity to consider how it will be implemented and what arrangements will be needed to deliver on it.”
“I want to focus on the importance of the hospital car parking charges legislation, as originally passed. As we know, the Assembly debated and agreed the principles of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill. This debate is not about the merits of that Bill. I appreciate that my colleague on the Health Committee, and his SDLP and Opposition colleagues, are doing their job, as they see fit, by trying to focus on Executive divisions, DUP/Sinn Féin hostilities, the issues facing the Executive or whatever. However, that is not what this debate is about or what the legislation is about. We are discussing the work that the Minister is trying to bring forward. It is about focusing on the progress that the Assembly can make to deliver the legislation and how it can be carried through and delivered in practice.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and for all the work that she has carried out on the issue. The problem of nuisance parking impacts on a lot of us. Minister, many areas that are in need of a residents' parking scheme are also neighbourhood renewal areas. Will there be any exemptions for such areas?”
“<BR /> <BR />I had a speech typed out, but I wanted to pick out some of the stark things that I took away from the Members who tabled the motion and their remarks that I wanted to touch on. The situation is extremely dangerous, so, hopefully, the motion can bring some good, and the Minister might have some good feedback for us when he responds to the debate.”
“That is a hell of a lot of people battling the condition. Hopefully, that will bring some urgency to getting the timeline for the business case, as well as the fact that it is an extremely serious issue in that it puts someone's life in danger. <BR /> <BR />I want to touch on the sad reality of how many children and young people the condition affects. Kids are already dealing with the desperate reality of social media and all the nonsense on the internet about the false sense of what a child's body should look like. That has an impact on the number of children and young people who pick up an eating disorder. The mover of the motion mentioned a figure of one in six, which is extremely serious.”
“Sadly, it is mostly younger people and, as the mover of the motion said, particularly young girls who are battling with such issues. That is sad because a legacy definitely remains: even if someone gets past the eating disorder and recovers, they definitely carry the scars of dealing with that burden for the rest of their life. I had that bit of lived experience through that family member. <BR /> <BR />I go back to one of the stark statistics that came out of the research that we did when we were preparing to respond to the motion. It was something that I was not aware of until earlier this week. The motion rightly highlights the fact that as many as 37,500 people here might be living with an eating disorder. That is a massive number and shows the challenge that we are dealing with.”
“The mover of the motion spoke about his experience of supporting a young girl in her 20s who was going through a battle with an eating disorder. As with many things to do with mental health and probably health more generally, unless you have had direct experience of helping one of your constituents with an issue or have lived experience through a family member, a friend or personally, you cannot really understand the issue. Hopefully, that line brings to bear on Members who have not had direct experience of an eating disorder just how serious the issue is. <BR /> <BR />I have a family member who battled an eating disorder at a very young age. Although he is doing much better now, thankfully, you can see how he carries the scars of dealing with the heavy burden of such a condition.”
“When you read that line about eating disorders, however, you think that many people might take that fact for granted. We are talking about a condition that carries the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. That line in itself gave me a sense of the seriousness of the issue.”
“I intend to support you in your work. Fair play, and thank you. <BR /> <BR />As has been said, eating disorders are among the most serious and complex mental health conditions that people face. In moving the motion, Peter made the point that some of those conditions carry the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. I think that that is really worrying. When you hear that spoken about, you think about the issues that we talk about: mental health and mental illness and all the issues around substance use and suicide and all the terrible illnesses that people go through.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion to mark Eating Disorders Awareness Week. I thank the chair of the all-party group and the other DUP Members who tabled the motion. Nicola Armstrong and the team at the Beat support group have done some fantastic work. I apologise that I have not made it to any of the APG meetings. The group is relatively new.”
“Minister, in the assessments of health inequalities that are specific to rural populations, have you gathered any information on the impact of health inequalities on women from rural areas? I recently attended a meeting on the issue of endometriosis and heard how barriers to travel and access to treatment impact negatively on women in rural areas.”
“I thank the junior Minister for her response regarding redress. When will the inquiry chair be appointed, and when will the public inquiry start?”
“We have strong strategies, clear commitments and dedicated staff and communities, but, without reliable data, we cannot see whether those commitments are being delivered. If we do not measure the system, we cannot fix the system, so I ask Members to support the motion so that we can bring transparency, accountability and real improvement to mental health services in the North.”
“I thank clinicians, community organisations, suicide prevention groups, family support services, peer workers and people with lived experience. I also acknowledge organisations such as New Script for Mental Health, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and many others, who have persistently highlighted the need for better data, investment and reform. They sustain a system that is stretched far beyond what is reasonable. <BR /> <BR />The motion is not about spreadsheets; it is about safety. Without accurate data, we cannot plan workforce, allocate resources, identify unmet need, target prevention and deliver the strategy or ensure equality of access. We also cannot know whether change is happening. We face one of the highest burdens of mental ill health on these islands.”
“Mental health receives around 7% of the Health budget, the lowest share across these islands. Around 80% of the strategy's actions are paused due to funding constraints. Workforce shortages are severe. Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) waiting lists remain unacceptable, and young people reach services later and in greater distress. That is the reality behind the motion. <BR /> <BR />I make it clear that the failure here is not with staff. Mental health workers across trusts, community organisations, charities and voluntary groups do extraordinary work under immense pressure. They carry risk daily, support families in crisis, fill gaps left by systemic under-capacity and save lives.”
“This is not about capability: in England, Scotland and Wales, Governments publish routine mental health service data covering waiting times, activity, workforce, access and performance. England has a public mental health data hub that is updated regularly. In the North, we have no equivalent as yet. We cannot compare trusts, and we cannot track trends or monitor pressures in real time. That lack of visibility undermines planning, accountability and reform. This is not about technical capability: the same Department delivered one of the most sophisticated public health dashboards that we have ever seen during COVID-19. It provided real-time, transparent and accessible information to the public. <BR /> <BR />The context is stark. Mental ill health costs our society £3·4 billion every year.”
“When we are in the scenario that the mental health strategy cannot even receive a good proportion of its funding, it may be silly to talk about how we can monitor its outcomes. However, it is important that, for any investment that we put into the strategies or into mental health as a whole, we are able to assess what outcomes we get from that investment. <BR /> <BR />The deliverability review confirmed that most actions in the strategy are paused or constrained and that monitoring progress remains limited. Without consistent data, we cannot track delivery. Without measurement, the strategy becomes aspiration rather than transformation. The mental health strategy cannot be delivered in the dark.”
“There is also no routine public reporting of waiting times or activity across many core services, including adult mental health, psychological therapies, counselling, eating disorder services and wider community provision. At present, there is no interactive dashboard, no routine monthly reporting, no trust-by-trust comparison and no clear visibility of capacity or demand. What makes that even more concerning is the fact that we have strong policy frameworks in the mental health strategy and the Protect Life 2 suicide prevention strategy. We have clear commitments to parity of esteem, early intervention and improved outcomes, but how do we know whether the strategies are working? Almost five years into the mental health strategy, we still do not have a published outcomes framework.”
“The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) described mental health data as "extremely poor", and the Office for Statistics Regulation identified major gaps. Assembly questions confirmed the unreliable reporting during the Encompass transition. I hope that the Minister will be able to give us some information on how Encompass might be able to help with that, once it has bedded in properly. <BR /> <BR />Since 2021, public bodies have warned about serious weaknesses in mental health data, but the core problems remain. Members may be surprised to learn that there is no statutory requirement to publish mental health performance data in the North. That would be unthinkable in most other areas of healthcare.”
“Members will be aware of this anyway, but the answer from the Minister to a question that I submitted recently stated that the trusts are recording data with low confidence because of the way in which the system is set up. <BR /> <BR />Despite the numbers waiting and the numbers that are not reflected in those figures, we still cannot produce a current regional waiting-list total. That should shock every Member of the House. As legislators, we cannot scrutinise services that we cannot see. We cannot assess value for money without outcomes, and we cannot reduce inequalities if they are not measured. Without transparent data, postcode inequalities in access to mental healthcare will remain hidden and unaddressed. Oversight bodies have repeatedly warned about that.”
“with routine public reporting across all health and social care trusts so that we can finally understand waiting times, workforce gaps, service demand, bed capacity, referrals, outcomes and whether investment is reaching patients. That is not a technical request; it is a basic requirement for safe, accountable services. <BR /> <BR />Members across the Chamber will be aware that mental health services face enormous pressures. In the North, 290 people died by suicide last year. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50. Mental ill-health prevalence is among the highest in these islands. In December 2023, over 17,500 people were waiting for a first mental health appointment. Thousands are waiting for psychological therapies. We are unaware of the number of people on those waiting lists across the board.”
“The motion is about something simple but absolutely fundamental: whether we can see clearly what is happening in our mental health services. If we cannot see the pressures in the system, we cannot relieve them; if we cannot measure performance, we cannot improve it; and, if we cannot track the need, we cannot meet it. The motion calls on the Minister to prioritise:”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“The people who died were not statistics; they were loved, valued and needed, and their loss must compel us, collectively, to do much better.”
“Over time, harmful alcohol use worsens mental health — it deepens isolation and increases the risk of suicide — and there emerges a cycle that people and families feel trapped within. Therefore, when we speak about alcohol deaths, we are also speaking about mental health services, waiting lists, crisis support and the absence of accessible care that treats addiction and mental ill health together rather than separately. What is needed now is urgent and sustained investment in community addiction services, early intervention, family support and properly resourced mental health care that recognises the reality of co-occurring addictions. <BR /> <BR />Today, I acknowledge the families who live with the pain of those losses every day: the grief, the questions and the sense of what might have been had help come sooner.”
“Communities that already face hardship carry the heaviest burden of addiction, illness and loss. Men continue to be disproportionately affected — almost two thirds of those who died were male — but the rate among women has risen sharply over the decade. Most of those dying are in midlife, between 45 and 64 years of age. Those are people who should still be at the heart of their families and communities. <BR /> <BR />As Sinn Féin spokesperson for addiction and suicide prevention, I want to be clear that alcohol dependence does not exist in isolation; those deaths are inseparable from the reality of co-occurring mental ill health, such as depression, anxiety and deep trauma, that too often goes untreated. Many people who struggle with their mental health turn to alcohol to cope.”
“I rise with deep sadness and concern following publication of the latest NISRA figures on alcohol-specific deaths in the North. In 2024 alone, 397 people died from alcohol-specific causes: that is 397 lives cut short and 397 families devastated and left with an unbearable absence in their homes. Such deaths now account for 2·2% of all deaths registered here. The trend is deeply alarming. Since 2014, the number of alcohol-related deaths has increased by more than 80%. That is not a stable situation; it is a worsening public health crisis that is unfolding in plain sight. <BR /> <BR />The figures show stark inequality. Over the most recent five-year period, there were almost four times as many alcohol deaths in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived. We know what that means in real terms.”
“Therefore, the Assembly is right to call today on the Department and the Minister to move beyond commitment and, hopefully, into delivery. <BR /> <BR />The Member from the Minister's party who spoke previously, Alan, obviously outlined all the progress that we have seen from Robin Swann and others over previous years. That is all so welcome, and we have to celebrate all the improvements that have been made, because, without doubt, they have saved lives and helped many people. However, we have to, if we can, push this issue forward to get a 24/7 service.”
“If you live closer to Belfast or your stroke happens during daytime hours, your chances are better. That is not a health service designed around need; it is one designed around convenience. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin believes that health reform must be patient-centred not system-centred. The reset plan speaks about outcomes, prevention and reducing long-term demand, yet we continue to delay one of the clearest examples of that approach in action. Sinn Féin recognises the immense pressures facing the health system and the health workforce. I think that everyone in the Chamber recognises that, and the Minister has repeatedly outlined the budgetary constraints on the Department. However, transformation cannot be delayed endlessly.”
“I thank the Member for the intervention. The mover of the motion spoke about that in some detail. There are options there that we can look at, and we should definitely explore them. I have no doubt that the Minister will be happy to do that, and he might update us when he responds to the debate. <BR /> <BR />The reset plan speaks about high-impact, outcome-focused reform. Few interventions meet that test as clearly as thrombectomy through better survival, better outcomes and reduced long-term pressure on the Health and Social Care system. Thrombectomy is one of the rare interventions that is clinically transformative and economically rational at the same time. There is also an uncomfortable truth here about equality of access. A stroke does not respect geography or time of day, but our service does.”
“England has committed to full 24/7 thrombectomy access by April 2026. Patients here are entitled to ask why their access to care should depend on where they live rather than on clinical need.”
“We are often told that funding is the barrier, but the figures also make it clear that the estimated cost of moving to 24/7 provision is just over £5 million recurrently, a modest sum when set against the lifelong costs of disability, residential care and lost independence when someone's treatment is delayed or denied. It is not simply a question of affordability; it is a question of having to make it a priority. <BR /> <BR />As Alan Robinson pointed out, it is important to note that, despite not having a 24/7 service, thrombectomy rates here are higher than those in England, Scotland and Wales. That is a credit to the skill and commitment of our staff, but it underlines how much more could be achieved if access was based on need rather than limited hours. There is also a growing issue of fairness.”
“I also welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion because, at its heart, it is about saving lives, improving recovery outcomes and ending unacceptable inequality in access to stroke care. <BR /> <BR />In June 2022, the stroke action plan contained a commitment to the delivery of a 24/7 thrombectomy service by the end of 2024. That was not a vague aspiration but a policy commitment. We are now past that deadline, and access to that treatment still depends on the time of day that a person has a stroke. To put that reality plainly, as Colin and others have outlined, a person who has a severe stroke at 2.00 pm may recover their independence while the same person with the same stroke at 2.00 am may not. That is the human consequence of having an 8.00 am-to-5.00 pm service.”
“<BR /> <BR />The motion does not pretend to fix everything overnight, but it does something that is essential: it puts the Assembly on record as recognising the need for commissioned, regional and integrated ADHD services. I urge Members to support the motion in order to send a clear message to all those who live with ADHD and their families that they are being heard; that their experiences matter; and that the Assembly is committed to building services that work for them and not against them.”
“Too many people with ADHD still face horrible stigma, misunderstanding and inappropriate expectations. Better awareness means earlier identification, reasonable adjustments and environments where people will thrive rather than struggle. ADHD affects families in every community; it cuts across health, education, employment and justice, and addressing it properly requires coordination, commissioning and political will. As we know, the Assembly has debated ADHD many times in recent years, and Members from all parties have raised concerns. Many of our statutory Committees have taken evidence on the issue, and we have covered it extensively in the Health Committee. Throughout that time, families have waited patiently. The time for acknowledgement has passed. What is needed now and what, hopefully, we can achieve is action.”