Emma Sheerin
Mid Ulster · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Given what we have seen unfold across the North in recent weeks, it is important that we acknowledge that they are people with particular vulnerabilities who are particularly sensitive and, with that in mind, consider our language.”
“No, I will not give way. You have rambled on for long enough in this place. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to the early clauses of the Bill, I, like others, put on the record our appreciation of the work of Geraldine Hanna and our support for the intent of Part 1 of the Bill, which puts the role that she has been carrying out impeccably thus…”
“I thank the Minister for clarifying that immigration is an excepted matter, which means that it is the responsibility of the British Government and nothing to do with the House.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Members will be aware that the DUP and some of its lackeys in the UUP cynically used petitions of concern, two weeks ago, to block rights for children.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak at the Second Stage of the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill. I am proud to be from a party that consistently supports the best available human rights advice on all matters.”
“For many years, Donaldson used his position of power to abuse and to escape justice. He presented himself as a role model. We now know that that was bogus and that his public persona was a deception.”
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“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. I congratulate my party colleague Declan McAleer and the team upstairs, particularly Bronwyn, for all the work that they have done to get the Bill to this stage. Contrary to what some others have said, I know that a significant amount of work has gone into the process, and I am delighted to see the Bill reaching Second Stage. I hope that it passes beyond that with the support of the House. <BR /> <BR />I declare an interest as someone who has family members who farm in ANCs and would benefit from the payment. As I have said in the Chamber before, I am the daughter of a sheep farmer from the Sperrins. As such, some of the commentary that I have heard today has been very disappointing.”
“We oppose the using of vulnerable groups across the world as justification for modern-day imperialist advances, which is what this is. We stand against that completely. Once again, we call on everyone in the Chamber to call for international rule and for human rights to always be observed across the world. Go raibh míle maith agat.”
“I thank the Member and appreciate the solidarity, which is consistent from her. <BR /> <BR />I totally understand the point that she makes. However, I urge anybody to reflect on the coverage that there has been over recent days. DUP members were told time and again how that support would be extended to our constituents and had the scheme broken down and explained to them by Dr Archibald — a schoolchild could have understood it — and they just refused to listen to it, continued to bully and shout at her in a Committee meeting and refused to let her take advice from her officials. It is absolutely insane. It is not in any way appropriate. <BR /> <BR />In tabling the motion, we are saying clearly once again that we oppose imperial aggression, colonialism and modern-day colonialism. We have been consistent on that.”
“The motion calls for what we will do to represent our constituents in the wake of international aggression. What I am saying is that our Ministers have worked hard to deliver that support and have called on the British Government to give us the means to do so. Once again, factors that are beyond our control leave us in that position because we do not have the autonomy that we would like to have here to do that directly.”
“Last Thursday night, she was on the media online.”
“This relates directly to the motion, because it asks for a clearly concerted approach from the Executive. What I am setting out here is that, in the wake of the crisis, instead of working with us to support the people whom we all represent, we have seen the bully boys in the DUP go after several of our Ministers. Instead of working with them, supporting them and helping them to deliver support, they are trying to backtrack from their own mistakes and play a blame game that does not make sense. I know that it is coming up to St Paddy's. I do not know whether they are so carried away with the US St Paddy's ritual that they think that there are leprechauns or pots of gold up in the sky or what the situation is, but I have never seen the like of it: Dr Archibald being accused of hiding when she was across the world.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“— and accusing her of hiding when she was across the world. She was on the media —.”
“No matter how clearly Dr Archibald explained it time and again to the Members opposite, they continued dragging her in front of Committees, asking question after question —”
“<BR /> <BR />Following that, never mind any sympathy for the loss of life across the world or the poor, innocent victims who had war brought upon them by international actors, we saw, within 24 hours, that it was going to have an impact on our constituents. Once again, the most vulnerable in society here — the people living on the breadline; working-class communities that we are all proud to represent — will struggle to pay their bills as a result of circumstances beyond their control. Instead of coming together and trying to work together as an Executive to demand that the British Government fund us in order to support the people whom we all represent, we see the DUP going on a complete red herring of a mission and borderline bullying several Sinn Féin Ministers about a bogus £81 million pot of money that is supposedly sitting there.”
“We have parties in government here that are ideologically opposed on a number of issues, including our past in Ireland and different international events. However, in the wake of this incident, unionism congratulated the US and Israel, jumped up and down and could not wait to tell them what a great job they were doing and wished that the British Government would do more. Let me be clear: I am proud of the stance that Michelle O'Neill took, and we in Sinn Féin will not be complicit in British defence, because we know what British defence means. We have seen it in Ireland, and we know what it means. We have seen it across the world.”
“That is good. <BR /> <BR />We would like to see a consistent voice coming from the Chamber, but, unfortunately, we have not seen the Members opposite be able to condemn the breaches of international law that we have seen in this past week. Instead, they have cheerled and congratulated the US and Israeli intervention, which has caused untold loss of life and will continue to do so, because, as has been clearly outlined, there is no plan for this aggression, as we have seen down through the years. There are people who feel that it is sad and embarrassing that we cannot have a consistent approach from the Chamber: I agree with that, but I am really frustrated by the way that it has been framed.”
“I will not take lectures from you or anybody else about our record on rights, because it has been clear. I am proud to be a representative of Sinn Féin and of the people whom I stand with. I know what I stand for, and it has been consistent.”
“We are on the record as saying this: there is absolutely no doubt that there has been abuse and persecution of women and other minority groupings in Iran. Do you know where else there is evidence of abuse of women? On every page of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Half the DUP Members are not here today because they are over across the world shaking shamrocks at a man who was found guilty in a court of law of sexual assault, the victim of which he then defamed — a man who has since glorified and joked about the abuse and sexual assault of women”
“— oppressed people will rise up. That is a fact and has always been a fact. The Member can mock all he wants, but it brings the fullness of his false words when he talks about victims of violence when that is his response to lost lives. <BR /> <BR />I will say clearly that no tears were shed for the innocent victims in Iran at this time. What is absolutely disgusting is the fact that Members, one after another, have attempted to use the suffering of women and minority groupings in Iran as justification for the Israeli and US aggression. You will not save women from oppression by bombing schoolgirls from the skies. That is a fact and has always been a fact, and we have seen that time and again, including this past week.”
“, and, as a result of that, as we see across the world, oppressed people”
“I say clearly that it was the British who started the conflict in this country. It was the British who occupied this place and the British who brought oppression here”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I agree with what he said, because, as we know, there have been multiple references today to the conflict in Ireland, most of which happened before I was born. I am grateful for that, and I am grateful to the Members on these Benches who fought so hard to get us the peace that I had the privilege to grow up in”
“You could not answer the question. I have always heard it said that every death was a tragedy. That is something that you will have to consider in the fullness of time.”
“That is a reflection on you. I have heard the same line parroted, time and again — various Members said it today — that there would be no tears shed for the ayatollah. What tears will you shed for the innocent lives that were lost?”
“We should be speaking with a consistent voice, and we should all be opposed to what we have seen in recent weeks. We should have a united voice coming from the Chamber. Instead, political unionism — the DUP, in particular — has glorified that aggression, supported yet another western intervention and, indeed, bemoaned the lack of British money being spent on defence. The Member nods his head, but that is depressing. That is sad. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“Thanks for giving way. You have articulated your view that you cannot comprehend or agree with the position laid out by the Ulster Unionist Party thus far and the view by the Member from the DUP and that you agree with the body of our motion, yet you expect us to have a united front with those people. Can you explain to me how we would get a united position in the Executive?”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important that we give that the Bill the consideration that it deserves. It is particularly important that we look at the causes of crime. They can include poverty and addiction, and the people involved can be on the outskirts of society and oftentimes require support, sympathy, empathy and compassion. We should prioritise providing those things rather than looking at addressing crime through the judicial system all the time. I welcome the opportunity to do that as the Bill makes its way through the process.”
“<BR /> <BR />The other massive gap is in regard to hate crime specific to misogyny. We talk, and others have talked at length, about the epidemic here of violence against women and girls. Femicide rates here are higher than they are anywhere else in Europe. We know that women are not murdered without misogyny, so we need to tackle that properly. <BR /> <BR />I note some of the comments that were made by the Chair of the Committee on non-criminal hate speech offences and hate crime offences. We have to consider all of that very carefully to maintain and protect free speech, but we also have to be cognisant of the fact that, as outlined by the Minister, people can commit multiple offences in the run-up to a murder, which, often, are displays of relevant hatred and discriminatory thoughts.”
“As others have done, I welcome the changes that have been made regarding dangerous-driving offences, particularly on aggravators in cases of murder, which is particularly relevant for victims' families, some of whom were represented here earlier. <BR /> <BR />We had concerns. I welcome the Minister's comments about wishing to include more hate crimes when introducing the regulations, which, she has stated, will not require legislation. I am glad to hear that, because there was a significant gap, particularly on sectarianism and having a proper definition of it. It is key that we consider that, particularly given the history of this country and the fact that sectarianism was used as a tool to divide people here. That is something that we need to be cognisant of.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. Sinn Féin supports the Sentencing Bill passing its Second Stage. We support the Bill, in principle, but we have reservations about specific elements of it, some of which have been touched on by other Members. <BR /> <BR />We need to focus on deterrence of crime, which needs a holistic approach from across government, and we need to look properly at the causes of crime. Research tells us that, often, the risk or fear of being caught is as effective a tool in preventing crime as longer sentencing. That is something that needs to be considered and will be discussed as the Bill makes its way through its Committee Stage.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“First Minister, at the end of your answer, you touched on fuel supply issues. Is there a risk to our energy supply as a result of the warfare? Did you discuss that with the British Prime Minister at your recent meeting?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chéad-Aire as ucht a freagra.”
“Minister, what contingency measures are you putting in place to ensure that any backlog of cases can be picked up at pace?”
“We recommit to equality, opportunity, safety and the shared belief that women's leadership strengthens every part of our society.”
“At this time, I find myself thinking of the young women and girls whose stories of oppression are being used as cover by egomaniacal warlords to justify using their weapons of mass destruction in yet another ploy to get oil and other resources. They do not care about those women, but they use them to further their objectives. Just this weekend, over 150 women were murdered in a joint project, but their names are not spoken. We owe them a future that is shaped not by limitation but by possibility. <BR /> <BR />Today, we celebrate the achievements of women across history and across our communities. We honour the women who led before us, the women who lead beside us and the women whose roles in leadership are ahead of them.”
“The framework sets out a bold ambition, but ambition must be matched by sustained implementation, resourcing and accountability. Ending violence against women and girls requires a cultural shift, and a cultural shift requires leadership from government, institutions, communities and every one of us. It requires bravery and people standing up and speaking out against societal norms. <BR /> <BR />International Women's Day is a global celebration, but it is also a day for reflection and responsibility. Our world is in turmoil, and history tells us that women are the biggest losers in war. Women rarely start wars, but we face the impact of them all the more.”
“Perhaps, most importantly, we created a space where women could connect, collaborate and learn from each other. The experiences shared were honest, inspiring and, at times, deeply challenging. Women spoke about not only their achievements but the realities of leadership: the scrutiny, the expectations and the burden of online and in-person abuse, which disproportionately targets women in public life. <BR /> <BR />The Executive's strategic framework to end violence against women and girls, which is an epidemic in this part of the world, is a crucial step towards addressing one of the most significant and enduring obstacles to equality. Violence is not only a criminal justice issue; it is a societal issue. It shapes women's behaviour, their freedom of movement, their opportunity to thrive and their sense of safety.”
“<BR /> <BR />As a member of the Assembly Women's Caucus, I am proud of the collaborative and cross-party space that it provides in this institution. Politics is very often divisive — that is the very nature of it — but the caucus shows what is possible when we come together with a shared purpose. A recent two-day conference, entitled 'Supporting Women in Public Life', was a fantastic example of that, and it brought together women from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, North and South. Throughout the event, we heard from women who have broken new ground, challenged long-established norms and led with integrity and courage. We heard about the persistent barriers women face, and the innovative work being undertaken to dismantle them.”
“For women who step into public life, hostility, intimidation and abuse, online and offline, remain an exhausting and often frightening reality. Today, the Assembly sends the message that women's voices will not be silenced. We will amplify them, and we will stand with them. <BR /> <BR />We commit ourselves to building an environment where women can participate fully and safely. The motion rightly acknowledges the organisations — large and small; grassroots and national — whose efforts inspire, equip and encourage women into leadership positions. Representation does not happen by accident; it happens because people and organisations invest in women and girls. It happens because someone, somewhere, has said, "Your voice matters. You belong here", and for that work, we are deeply grateful.”
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the Assembly to mark International Women's Day, which falls on Saturday. The motion invites us to reflect on the contributions, leadership and lived experiences of women from across every part of our society, and it challenges us to recognise the work that remains to be done. We know the value that women bring to our society, be it in classrooms, boardrooms or waiting rooms. Women are carers, cleaners and CEOs, and the work that they do, both paid and unpaid, turns the world around. <BR /> <BR />Whilst we acknowledge progress, we must also be honest about the persistent inequalities that shape the experiences of too many women and girls. Structural barriers remain, as does everyday sexism, violence and the threat of violence.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“<BR /> <BR />We talk in the House about issues that affect our constituents, but there is no care expressed for the oppressed peoples of the world. Sinn Féin has a proud record on rights. We stand with those who are under occupation and oppression and will continue to do so.”
“There has been no condemnation of that from the DUP, which instead cries over spilt milk in the form of rising oil prices. Actions have consequences. There is unnecessary conflict across the world, with the killing of innocent people and our constituents suffering as a result. That is when the DUP realise that their support has consequences. <BR /> <BR />Time and again, we have watched the British Government jump head first into global conflict at every opportunity. America freed itself from Britain and then blindly followed it. What do we have here? We have political unionism doing the same, cheerleading and warmongering at every opportunity. There is no condemnation of the loss of life as a result, and that is an absolute disgrace.”
“Yesterday, the House debated a motion in which Members could have called for support for the hard-pressed workers and families whom we all represent through greater representation in the EU; instead, political unionism made it about the need for increased defence spending and militarisation. This morning, the DUP is crying about the rise in the price of oil and the cost to our constituents. There is not a word about the human cost of all of those who have lost their life as a result of more unnecessary conflict; instead, there is cheerleading for Netanyahu, Trump and the world's other war leaders who are showing us yet again that they do not care what destruction they cause. <BR /> <BR />We have been talking about International Women's Day this week, while Israel has murdered 165 young girls.”
“Does the Member recognise that the UK still occupies Ireland?”
“I have taken multiple interventions. Tá mé críochnaithe anois.”
“We should be focused on helping the people whom we all represent, not on dropping bombs on countries that we have never been in or have any reason to go to. We support self-determination, and we have been consistent in that. We support the right of any country to defend itself, but we do not support the killing of innocent children in foreign countries that we are never going to be in nor that we know anything about.”
“You do not have anything to say: that is my point. In the past, our membership of the EU gave us opportunities to help the people whom we all represent. Instead, we are having a discussion about defence spending and militarisation. That is not what we should be focused on at this time.”
“— in your contribution on your amendment. You have the opportunity now, if you want it, to condemn Israel's oppression of the Palestinian people.”
“Your focus is on opportunities for defence and militarisation. As has been outlined, Ireland's position of neutrality has long been supported by the Irish people, and we support it. As you correctly outlined, it is important that we support the people of Ukraine against the aggression of Russian imperial power. I regret that you did not mention the Palestinian people, who have also been oppressed. It is a crying shame that the EU has decided to stand with Israel. I note that you did not have anything to say about that —”
“I doubt that I will need it. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member for her intervention. As a representative of my constituency, I will accept funding for its community groups from wherever it comes. My point is that, in voting for Brexit, the UK Government cut us off from major funding opportunities, including, as my colleague highlighted, the Shared Prosperity Fund. The loss of that fund has had a disadvantageous impact on groups in our constituencies that work with the most vulnerable. <BR /> <BR />The motion prioritises opportunities for those whom we represent. It is regrettable that the UUP pivoted that objective towards a focus on defence and militarisation. I do not see the benefit of or rationale for that.”
“<BR /> <BR />I note with interest that the UUP amendment —.”