Sinéad Ennis
South Down · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“The revelation over recent days that members of the DUP, including the Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots, had knowledge of the exploitation of a young woman by the now convicted paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson raises serious questions for the DUP.”
“The bottom line here is that a dangerous paedophile went unchallenged and, worse still and despite clear, known red flags, was elected leader of the DUP.”
“We only have to look at Belfast Harbour's master plan, which sets out the possible significant economic impact that that can have. That includes enabling a quarter of all island-wide seaborne trade, which, in turn, creates £8·8 billion in gross value added and equates to 15·7% of the North's total annual output.”
“Instead, the focus must be on whether the agencies that have responsibility, including the environmental regulators and enforcement bodies such as the NIEA and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, are doing enough and whether they have sufficient powers to tackle such issues effectively.”
“The primary objective of the shaking up of driver licensing here in the North is to improve road safety by ensuring that young people are better equipped for driving on our roads. However, at present, many young people pass their tests and are completely priced out of driving because of the insurance rip-off that we are seeing.”
“That reality sees them borrowing from the Department, which is already in a very constrained capital budget position, as the Minister outlined. The provisions in the Bill will ensure that the accountability and oversight mechanisms provided by commissioners on the boards of ports or harbours will continue.”
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“The bottom line here is that a dangerous paedophile went unchallenged and, worse still and despite clear, known red flags, was elected leader of the DUP. On that basis, I call for the Speaker to stand aside, pending full disclosure of all the issues and any and all knowledge within the DUP of inappropriate behaviour before and during Donaldson's time as DUP leader.”
“The revelation over recent days that members of the DUP, including the Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots, had knowledge of the exploitation of a young woman by the now convicted paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson raises serious questions for the DUP. Even if we accept that there were no criminal or safeguarding issues — and that remains to be seen — there was clearly knowledge of inappropriate behaviour by Donaldson that, according to the current DUP leader, was not passed to the party officers. The result is that those issues were not raised or dealt with, even as the DUP elevated Donaldson to leadership of the party. In effect, Donaldson's behaviour was ignored. That raises serious questions for Edwin Poots as Assembly Speaker. At best, it was a gross misjudgement by the Speaker; at worst, it was a fundamental and disastrous moral failure.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Would it not be more appropriate for you to recuse yourself while your party does its internal investigation of whether there was any impropriety during your time as leader, as it indicated this morning it will do?”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Given the severity and gravity of the situation and the accusations in hand, will you be recusing yourself from adjudication on any issues relating to the matter?”
“Profiteering on the backs of new and young drivers is wrong and, in the midst of a rising cost-of-living crisis, many of them simply cannot afford to get on the road. <BR /> <BR />I commend the Minister for her efforts on GDL, as a measure to make our roads safer, and I welcome the Minister's commitment to rolling out a major public information campaign to further raise awareness and support for GDL. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that it, as well as the other measures that I have listed that the Minister is implementing, will have on our roads and our road users.”
“The primary objective of the shaking up of driver licensing here in the North is to improve road safety by ensuring that young people are better equipped for driving on our roads. However, at present, many young people pass their tests and are completely priced out of driving because of the insurance rip-off that we are seeing. I take this opportunity, as Sinn Féin continues to do, to call on the insurance companies to step up, take notice of the changes that we will be making here in the autumn and reflect those changes in the prices that they quote to new drivers. Young people will play their part through the new process, but being quoted an extortionate £5,000 for insurance is not acceptable. It needs to be reduced, and insurance companies need to play their part and work with the Assembly on that issue.”
“Fifty-six people being killed on our roads means that 56 families, workplaces and clubs feel the huge loss of a loved one. Things definitely have to change. I think that we all recognise and respect that.”
“As the Minister has set out, it is only one link in a chain of actions that she is taking to improve road safety alongside the introduction of a lower legal alcohol limit, legislation to further address the use of mobile phones while driving and a safer journeys to school programme and related legislation. It is clear that the Minister is steadfast in her commitment to doing everything that she can to improve road safety and reduce the high number of deaths that we continue to see on our roads. <BR /> <BR />Looking at 2025 statistics and seeing that 56 people lost their lives on our roads across the North should act as a reminder to us that we all have more to do and that all of us who drive on our roads have a responsibility to make them safer.”
“I, too, associate myself with the Minister's comments on the tragic death of Kourtney McCormick. I send my condolences and sympathy to her family at this very sad time. <BR /> <BR />Road safety should be a priority for us all. I therefore welcome the motion to approve the statutory rule on graduated driver licensing that has been brought before the Assembly. While I was not on the Committee for Infrastructure throughout the entirety of its scrutiny of the SR, I believe that, as the Chair has set out, stakeholders and witnesses have supported the introduction of GDL as a means to improve road safety, particularly for young people.”
“<BR /> <BR />Does the Minister agree that the provisions in the Bill that allow ports to widen their horizons and attract more commercial opportunities will help them, because they will not be restricted to companies such as ReGen, whose operation is a nuisance to the people in Warrenpoint? They will not be restricted to those rogue enterprises, and they can therefore look for more sustainable investment in the port that does not impact adversely on local communities?”
“I am not suggesting that the Member wants to get into this now, because now is not the appropriate time. However, when we talk about breaches of environmental regulations or environmental nuisance, we need to look at enforcement. It is not working for people and is not doing the job that it is supposed to do. The NIEA, rather than punishing offenders, is helping them to become compliant again so that they can break the rules again. That needs to end. I am very open, as I am sure others are, to having that conversation with the Minister, because — I know that the Member will agree with this — the situation is intolerable for our constituents in Warrenpoint.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. The contact that we have had from members of the public in Warrenpoint and their attempts to understand what the Bill does and to amend it show the level of desperation. Anything related to the harbour that constitutes a change to how it runs will be latched on to and seen as a vehicle to rectify the horrendous situation that constituents in Warrenpoint face.”
“The Member raises a very important point. While the Assembly Commission has set out everything that it is required to do in legislation, staff need that hands-on, in-person experience so that, if something were to happen, they would know what to do and what the procedure is. As a Commission member, I know that the Assembly complies with its statutory requirements around food preparation, which you talked about — more commonly known as "Natasha's law". I will certainly bring that back to the Commission, and we can discuss whether we can do more about that hands-on, first-responder response and about whether, if something happened, staff would be equipped to deliver the necessary first response. We will absolutely take that back and discuss it.”
“The service provider is required to provide various dietary options based on, for example, diabetic and low-salt requirements, allergies, intolerances and other things, such as vegetarian and vegan diets, on request. Specifically, the service provider operates an allergen management system based on statutory and established food safety procedures. That includes key control points such as the provision of clear allergen information, appropriate food display and labelling, staff training and safe food preparation practices.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The Assembly Commission is mindful of the different needs of individual users of and visitors to Parliament Buildings. The Assembly Commission requires its service provider to deliver comprehensive cleaning services that maintain the highest levels of health, safety and hygiene in accordance with the British Institute of Cleaning Science's cleaning standards. While providing catering services throughout Parliament Buildings, the service provider is required to comply with all relevant legislation and best practice guidance. <BR /> <BR />In addition, the Assembly Commission strives to meet the differing needs and dietary requirements of our wide customer base.”
“The current contract is for use by Assembly Commission business areas and does not, at present, extend to Members' individual constituency or party political requirements. As the contract is due to expire in April 2027, the scope of future provision can be considered as part of planning for the next contractual arrangements. However, the Assembly Commission makes funding available to Members for their constituency office operating costs to cover the expenditure incurred to provide constituency services, including sign language and interpretation support.”
“The Assembly Commission will ensure that future contractual arrangements support the Commission's statutory responsibilities and enable the continued delivery of plenary and Committee business in a way that is responsive to the needs of the deaf community.”
“The contract provides for the interpretation of one Question Time each week in BSL and ISL and for sign language interpretation to meet other ad hoc business needs. During the passage of the Sign Language Bill, the contract was used to support accessibility at each stage of the legislative process. That included interpretation of the call for evidence, enabling BSL and ISL users to submit responses in video format, and interpretation of amendments to the Bill, which were then made available on the Assembly website. Feedback received from members of the deaf community was positive. <BR /> <BR />On publication of the statutory guidance, the Assembly Commission will consider its responsibilities and determine whether any related policy or procedural changes are required.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The Sign Language Bill makes provision for the recognition and promotion of British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL). Once enacted and commenced, it is expected to place duties on prescribed organisations, including duties to take reasonable steps to ensure that the information and services that they provide are as accessible to people in the deaf community as they are to others. Further detail on those duties is expected to be set out in statutory guidance in due course. <BR /> <BR />Sign language interpretation services are currently provided to the Assembly Commission through the sign language interpretation services contract.”
“Yes, there will be an ongoing review. As and when we have that information, I am sure that the Commission will be happy to share it with Members. I know that the Member has a specific interest in that. I can take the Member's query on the agreed continuous improvement plan back to the Assembly Commission and will happily write to him to provide updates on that as well.”
“While many actions focus on improving energy efficiency and reducing costs, the Commission recognises that not all sustainability initiatives are driven solely by financial savings. <BR /> <BR />While opportunities to improve energy efficiency are actively pursued, it is recognised that fluctuating energy prices can make it challenging to consistently demonstrate cost savings. Energy-specific measures, such as the replacement of fluorescent lighting with LED technology, are expected to deliver reduced energy consumption and longer-term financial efficiencies, although the full benefits will take time to materialise, as savings accrue over time and are influenced by factors such as energy price fluctuations and operational usage.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission last reviewed its environmental and sustainability policies, which relate to energy efficiency, as part of its annual environmental management review. That review, which forms part of the Assembly's ISO 14001:2015 accredited environmental management system, is presented to and considered by the senior management team each year. <BR /> <BR />The most recent review included consideration of energy efficiency in the context of value for money and improved environmental outcomes. As part of that process, a continuous improvement plan was agreed, setting out actions for the coming year to enhance environmental performance.”
“Will she also spell out clearly what, if any, scope there is in the Bill to stop the storage of waste at Warrenpoint port? Can she outline which bodies are responsible for regulating issues such as odour and environmental nuisance, and what coordination is taking place to ensure that residents' complaints are acted on? <BR /> <BR />We need the agencies that are responsible for protecting communities from odour and nuisance to do their job. As MLAs, we need to hold them to account, but we do not do that by misplacing responsibility. That issue needs to be resolved, and it must be done on the basis of fact and proper accountability. That said, Minister, Sinn Féin will support the Bill at Second Stage.”
“Instead, the focus must be on whether the agencies that have responsibility, including the environmental regulators and enforcement bodies such as the NIEA and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, are doing enough and whether they have sufficient powers to tackle such issues effectively. <BR />My hope is that the Bill may open up more and greater economic and commercial opportunities for Warrenpoint port and allow the port to attract better tenants who do not cause a nuisance to the communities in which they are situated. <BR /> <BR />I ask the Minister to clarify a number of important points. I ask her to set out clearly, for the record, what powers the Department has in relation to ports such as Warrenpoint. Can she confirm that those powers do not extend to directing commercial operations?”
“Warrenpoint Harbour Authority operates as a commercial entity, and the Department for Infrastructure currently does not have the power to direct or control its day-to-day commercial operations. That fundamental point needs to be understood, and it cannot simply be wished away. <BR /> <BR />Minister, you and I have been lobbied on the possibility of amending the Bill, so it is fair to ask you to address, in your response to the debate, the competency of those suggested amendments. We need clarity on the suggestion that the Infrastructure Minister either has, or should now take on, powers that do not currently exist. We should be very cautious about creating a misleading narrative, particularly when it risks raising false expectations among residents in Warrenpoint.”
“<BR /> <BR />If I thought for one second that the Bill could be used as a vehicle for ending the misery that is being inflicted on my community by ReGen and Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, the Minister and I would be the first to ensure that it was. The people whom I represent want real solutions, and they want the agencies and Departments that are responsible to do their jobs. They want an end to the misery. Minister, you and I have been lobbied in recent days on that. We need to be honest in the Chamber about where responsibility and authority sit and what the Bill can and, perhaps more importantly, cannot do. We have been dealing with this issue for three years.”
“Therefore, we must ensure that we support them in becoming able to compete with other ports across these islands. However, I cannot speak about the Harbours Bill without referencing the odour issue that affects my constituents in Warrenpoint. As the Minister will be acutely aware, the community in Warrenpoint has been, and continues to be, badly impacted by the commercial decisions taken by Warrenpoint Harbour Authority and ReGen to store putrid household waste at the port. That is entirely unacceptable for those who live nearby, and I am committed to resolving it. The people in Warrenpoint are right to expect to be able to live in their homes without being subjected to persistent and unpleasant smells. Their concerns are genuine, and they deserve action.”
“We only have to look at Belfast Harbour's master plan, which sets out the possible significant economic impact that that can have. That includes enabling a quarter of all island-wide seaborne trade, which, in turn, creates £8·8 billion in gross value added and equates to 15·7% of the North's total annual output. Significant job creation is also evident, with an estimated 155,000 jobs supported across the region and 20,000 people employed in the harbour estate. With the plan's prospect of additional housing, renewable energy and a boost to island-wide trade, we must ensure that we support trust ports to be more sustainable in the future. <BR /> <BR />As an MLA whose constituency office is mere metres from Warrenpoint port, I recognise that ports can have benefits mainly for imports and exports but also for the all-island economy.”
“That reality sees them borrowing from the Department, which is already in a very constrained capital budget position, as the Minister outlined. The provisions in the Bill will ensure that the accountability and oversight mechanisms provided by commissioners on the boards of ports or harbours will continue. That is an important scrutiny function in relation to the operation and management of ports. To be clear, Sinn Féin does not support free ports, but we support the measures in the Bill, which will ensure that the legislative and governance frameworks of commercial trust ports across the North are modernised and fit for purpose. <BR /> <BR />The requirement on ports to reinvest their profits in the operation of their port and for the port's benefit has a positive impact on the economy.”
“First, I thank the Minister for her work in progressing the legislation and bringing it to the Chamber today. From what she has said and what we know about the Bill, it is clear that doing nothing about trust ports would severely impact their future operability. <BR /> <BR />When we look at what the narrow Bill proposes to change, we see that, essentially, it will ensure that trust ports can compete with other ports across these islands and better contribute to the regional economy. Also, the fact that the Bill seeks to improve marine safety through updates similar to those that have been made in other jurisdictions cannot be lost. <BR /> <BR />At present, we know that ports are restricted by the borrowing arrangements by which they must abide.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Following the Justice Minister's point of order, will the Deputy Speaker make a ruling under Standing Order 65, when reviewing Mr Burrows's comments, on whether it was in order for him to accuse parties in the Chamber of wanting to legalise rape and whether those comments were dangerous and misleading? If they are found to be dangerous and misleading, which, I think, they are, will Mr Burrows be asked to retract and clarify those comments?”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Will you make a ruling on whether it is appropriate for male Members across the way to jeer at female Members as they enter the Chamber, which happened moments ago when we came in?”
“On a point of order, Deputy Speaker. I do not think that that is good enough. You need to bring clarity to this debate and this debacle, because, frankly, if we are not going to have a vote on this, there is no point in continuing this farce, which is exactly what it is. With all due respect, Deputy Speaker, how can you make a ruling on this while still sitting in the Chair during the debate?”
“It is a farce. The Members opposite are gloating about it because they think that they have claimed some victory today. It is an abuse of Assembly time and an abuse of democracy. If you are not going to accept Standing Order 25, what is the point in any of us still being here tonight? It is a farce.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. There was a proposal from Paula Bradshaw a few moments ago in respect of Standing Order 25. Have you made a ruling on that, and, if not, can you give some clarity to the House because, quite frankly, what we are engaging in is a farce?”
“It is deflection and smokescreen: you condemn the presence of masked men, deputy First Minister, but just not on Saturday. On the subject of masked men, will you explain why your party representative challenged the PSNI's decision to remove the hate banner in Moygashel? Will you condemn the re-erection by masked men of that hate banner at a play park in Moygashel?”
“Minister, you have continued to misrepresent Sinn Féin's position because it is convenient for you. You talked about smokescreens. You want to create a smokescreen to deflect from the fact that the Bill has no support from the unions and no support from teachers. You want to make Sinn Féin the story to deflect from the Bill's failings. That is the truth of the matter.”
“Blind faith is not a good strategy for approaching legislation. Frankly, the Minister has not earned the faith of the Assembly. I say this to anyone who naively thinks that the Minister will acquiesce to his Bill being watered down: that is a fantasy. If Members doubt what I am saying, listen to the gloating and jeering from the DUP Members on the Benches opposite. Look at how giddy they get at the very mention of sanctioning teachers.”
“Minister, not for the first and probably not for the last time, the British Government have characteristically been more preoccupied with their own leadership wrangles in Westminster than with ensuring a fair funding package for the Executive here. Can you outline what engagement you have had with the British Government and how you plan to engage with them going forward on the issue?”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. For Mr Burrows's information, 50 years from now is not 2060; it is 2076. We will take no lectures on the competency of our Ministers from a person who cannot get basic maths right.”
“However, people here want better for themselves and their families, and Sinn Féin will continue to offer a better way and a better future. We will continue to give people hope; hope for a future beyond the constraints of Westminster, where decisions are made without thought of, or regard for, the people and communities here. We look forward to working with progressive Governments and parties in Wales and Scotland, and we will build on existing relationships as we continue to build momentum towards constitutional change and, ultimately, something better for all our people here.”
“It is no surprise that the DUP, 10 years after the disastrous referendum on Brexit, which it championed and still supports today, has been at pains over the past number of days to diminish and talk down the enormity and significance of the elections. The DUP increasingly wants to fight the battles of the past, because it has no vision for the future.”
“First, I send congratulations from the Assembly Chamber to the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru on their historic election success over the weekend. For the first time in history, we could have three nationalist, pro-independence First Ministers leading the devolved institutions. The election results are not just a reaction to the desire and clear necessity for self-determination but a damning indictment of successive British Governments, who have abandoned working people, decimated public services and put vested interests above communities. <BR /> <BR />More and more people are seeing that the Union is not working for them.”
“Does the Minister agree that the DUP is all over the place on the issue? As usual, the DUP is loud on grievance but quiet on credibility.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. It is a bit like the twilight zone in here sometimes. <BR /> <BR />The Minister knows that the just transition commission is an outworking of the Climate Change Act. I remind the DUP that it supported that Act. Not only did it support it, but it claimed credit for it in its 2022 Assembly election manifesto. Maybe that slipped its Members' minds. The DUP told people then that it would:”
“I totally concur with the First Minister. It is outrageous and unfair that our young people have to face those high insurance premiums. I know that the First Minister and the Infrastructure Minister are doing great work and have had conversations around how we tackle that. Will the First Minister outline what work is being done to tackle those huge insurance premiums?”
“At a time when LGBTQI rights are under attack across the globe, it is vital that we have a strategy in place here that will, for example, help us progress the ban on harmful conversion practices and improve non-discrimination and equality legislation. Minister, why are you continuing to fail LGBTQI people by refusing to bring forward the strategy?”
“I agree that the figures are encouraging, Minister. It is important that we capitalise on that growth. Will you outline what actions your Department is taking to make sure that we can build on that growth to ensure that tourism numbers continue to rise and that we continue to see the economic benefits of tourism in all regions across the North?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. It is absolutely disgusting to see the DUP and others parroting the US lie that this war is somehow about advancing women's rights, when no woman has ever been freed by US bombs. Perhaps when they are making their winding-up speeches, those Members can tell us what the murder of 150 schoolgirls did to advance women's rights in Iran.”
“Minister, as you have said in your comments today, so many people here are struggling with the cost of home heating oil. Is the Minister wondering, as I am, why the Communities Minister is not here today to sit down with him and the rest of his Executive colleagues to figure out how he can best get that money out to the people who need it, rather than indulging himself in vanity projects in the USA?”