Deirdre Hargey
South Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“His double standards, including his condemnation of and opposition to equality and rights for our LGBTQ+ citizens, have caused real harm to others. The revelations about his double life expose the staggering hypocrisy of the DUP's moral facade. We need to know whether failing to act sooner left more vulnerable people at risk.”
“One week ago today, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sexual offences, including rape. That conviction was made possible only by the strength and resilience of the two victims who came forward and reported the abuse. Donaldson was an abuser. He abused children, but he also abused his position in politics and faith.”
“They now say that they knew about his behaviour, but, crucially, they did nothing to expose his inappropriate hypocrisy and double life. The 'Spotlight' programme and other reports have shown that senior members of the DUP — its most senior figures, including the then leader, Edwin Poots — were aware of serious issues and allegations abou…”
“It is therefore not credible to suggest that the intelligence agencies were blind to his compromised double standards and double life. <BR /> <BR />Those questions demand answers from the DUP leadership. They demand answers in the House from the deputy First Minister, who was closely associated with Donaldson.”
“It is clear that there is a huge disconnect between Whitehall and the reality that is being felt by people on the ground. A British Treasury policy that is managing decay, real-terms cuts and disastrous policy decisions such as Brexit or the funding of wars over public services comes on top of existing disparities between how public servi…”
“The answer is not the short-term fixes or cash injections that we have had in the past, which have allowed for the repeated Treasury script of record settlements and inability of the Executive to manage their finances — scripts that are often parroted in the Chamber.”
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“As others have said, it is good that the Fiscal Council Bill is being debated in the House today. There was a good level of discussion and, to be fair, agreement on the Bill at the Finance Committee. <BR /> <BR />Back in 2021, former Minister of Finance Conor Murphy announced the establishment of the Fiscal Council to provide independent scrutiny of Executive Budgets and to look at their transparency. I thank Minister O'Dowd and his officials, some of whom are here today, who worked with individual Members and the Committee to provide the additional information that we required throughout the process. Ensuring that the Fiscal Council is placed on a firm statutory footing has been important since its creation. It is one of the reasons that we wanted to get the Bill to this point today.”
“I think that the Minister's answer to my question is no. He mentioned trying to impact on working-class children, and I agree. I still live in a working-class community and can see the damage. The reviewer whom the Minister selected to carry out the curriculum review, Lucy Crehan, said at a recent meeting of the Education Committee that academic selection distorts the curriculum in primary schools. Taking on board what the reviewer said, what changes will the Minister make to look at that? The situation is damaging, particularly to working-class children.”
“— but we believe in power-sharing and in building this society.”
“— because we believe in bringing society forward and moving forward as a society under the terms of that agreement. Sinn Féin believes in power-sharing. Others may not or do not see us as partners —”
“It is the Good Friday Agreement, which you did not sign up to. We signed up to the Good Friday Agreement —”
“However, we signed up to the Good Friday Agreement 28 years ago. We signed up —”
“If you are going to look at things in history, look at the facts: the red berets and the creation of a sectarian state that had inbuilt discrimination in jobs and housing. That is the legacy of conflict that we have come from. There is a legacy of torture. My family member was tortured by the RUC's Special Branch, and there were plastic bullets and a shoot-to-kill policy. <BR /> <BR />We are 28 years after the Good Friday Agreement. My family and the community that I come from were impacted on by conflict, killings, torture and the sectarian discrimination that was built into the statelet that was formed here over 100 years ago.”
“<BR /> <BR />The attackers do not represent the wider community; a community that is looking forward, not back. That is what we have here: sections within the community. It is not unique to one community. We can see it with loyalists and other groups as well. There are those in the community and, indeed, some in the Chamber who want to drag us backwards. They want to go back to days that, thankfully, were 28 years ago. It is in moments such as this that we have to refocus our energy and look forward. We should not allow those outside or inside the Chamber to drag us back. We could all look across the Chamber and try to score points. What about Ulster Resistance and the red berets? Members of other parties in the Chamber put on the red beret.”
“I concur with what my colleague has said. Obviously, what happened in Dunmurry at the weekend is not reflective or representative of the wider community there. Indeed, we know exactly what this is like because one of our offices was attacked with a viable device in recent months. Sinn Féin has been the focus of such actions as well, yet I have not heard one other person mention that. We understand completely what that is like. <BR /> <BR />Our Sinn Féin reps were out on the ground over the weekend, as Órlaithí said, engaging with the police. The police, along with other first responders, responded to the incident. They rapped doors and evacuated many people, including young children. We have been out engaging with that community, which, I am sure, is shaken up, along with the driver whose car was hijacked.”
“The point you raise is a good one, considering that recent figures have shown that energy companies are making $30 million an hour. So far, they have made $23 billion from what they call a "war windfall", which is a disgusting statement in itself, yet the British Government still refuse to tax those profits. That is where the focus needs to be, and that is where the levers are to do it.”
“<BR /> <BR />While there were some initial concerns about charges, and parties may have had a difference of opinion, one of the key issues that came out of the consultation and engagement was that dealing with an administration charge would allow the scope of the scheme to be extended to other protected groups that do not fall under the SmartPass scheme at the moment. Therefore, if we can broaden that scheme through these provisions, that is positive for those communities as well. <BR /> <BR />I reiterate our support for not approving clause 20. As others have said, we will continue to look at scrutiny.”
“We are all aware of the huge challenges in our education system, particularly in STEM and Irish-medium education. Therefore, anything that can address some of the challenges that those two areas of work face is positive, and I believe that the amendment can help to do that. <BR /> <BR />Amendment Nos 2 and 3 relate to clause 17. Sinn Féin supports applying the affirmative resolution procedure. As the Chair said, there has been some discussion on the issue more broadly. I am glad that the Minister for Infrastructure recognised that and asked the Finance Minister to take the amendment forward.”
“It is also looking at greater flexibility and the ability to extend the scope of existing funding for victims and survivors, particularly those pertaining to the impact of conflict, mother-and-baby homes, the laundries and the workhouses, and also looking at the emerging issue of ending violence against women and girls. Therefore, while it is technical, the outworkings of this work are having an impact across many of our communities, particularly those with vulnerabilities and those that are often left out of such support, such as women and victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />On the amendments beyond the main scope of the 20 clauses, we support the first amendment, which is the provision to enable teacher training and education bursary schemes.”
“I thank the Minister for the legislation. As other Members have said, it is a wide-ranging Bill with 20 clauses across a number of Departments. Obviously, good work has been done at the Finance Committee, and also engagement across the other Committees that are impacted on and have been feeding into the process and into our deliberations. <BR /> <BR />I take on board Matthew's point that it is seen as quite a technical Bill, but when you look at the implementation of it, it is about looking at strategic investment funding to build our economy and job creation. It is around economic support and giving the Department for the Economy the power to look at financial support for our local businesses.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although there are broader issues that we will need to consider in the future, it is right that we move ahead with the changes in the Bill and do not delay progress, because, as many Members have said, it has been 10 years since the most recent court judgement. The Bill is a step in the right direction. It protects our young people, advances equality and, importantly, modernises our legal framework in a fair and inclusive way. On that basis, we are pleased to support the Minister's approach to the legislation, and we look forward to the rest of the Bill's legislative stages.”
“That is important for tackling human trafficking and exploitation and is an area of concern that has been raised by communities here. <BR /> <BR />We also support the changes being made concerning belief marriages. The Bill will put us on a correct footing by addressing an inequality that was highlighted in the courts back in 2017. We believe that treating people who are humanists or have non-religious beliefs with the same respect with which we treat those with religious beliefs is an issue of fairness. It is important that we are now putting those rights on a firm legal footing through the amendments to existing legislation that the Bill will make.”
“It is important that our laws empower young people, but it is also important that they protect them from coercion, inequality and decisions that may lead to lifelong negative consequences. Such concerns arose during the engagement process. The change to the law will ensure that such protections are in place. <BR /> <BR />There is also a clear equality dimension, on which Eóin touched. We know that under-18 marriages disproportionately affect girls, and, as Matthew said, given that we are looking to end violence against women and girls, that is a really important aspect of the legislation. We support the measures in the Bill that strengthen rights and protections, and we also welcome the provisions in clause 6 relating to forced marriages. The clause extends the offence of forced marriage to here.”
“I echo what everybody else has said and welcome the Second Stage debate on the Bill. It is important that our legislation be routinely updated in order that it is fit for purpose. Sinn Féin supports the changes that the Minister is making. I thank him and his team of officials. <BR /> <BR />It is important that we raise the minimum age for marriage and civil partnership to 18. As Members and the Minister have said, that will bring it into line with international best practice and be consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which also recommends setting the minimum age at 18. As the Minister said, the changes are supported by the majority of respondents, so the Bill is in line with where society is at on the issue.”
“Following our party's scrutiny of it and the Justice Committee's scrutiny and having considered it in the Chamber today, we are content with the LCM.”
“As the Minister said, the Committee and the Chamber have scrutinised a number of LCMs that pertain to the Crime and Policing Bill. Like the Member who spoke previously, we have concerns about elements of the Bill. That shows why we would ideally want to legislate locally in the Assembly, but there are circumstances in which we need to consider legislative consent motions, and this is one such circumstance. <BR /> <BR />The LCM that we are considering is narrow in focus. As has been said, it looks at the important area of age verification requirements, particularly for online sales, which is an issue that we continually hear about in Committee and elsewhere in our role as MLAs. The legislation that we are considering by way of the Minister's LCM is essential and important.”
“Minister, will you outline what current supports there are in the rating system for local businesses and what supports you plan to bring forward?”
“I thank the Minister. This will be welcome news to many of the inner-city communities in my South Belfast constituency, including the one in which I live. I also welcome the fact that the Department will consider streets in and around the Ulster University campus. Will you outline which streets will be considered?”
“Thanks very much, Minister. It was important that you outlined the disastrous approach of the British Government and the impact that it has had on the funding of services here. You touched on the fact that the consultation on your three-year Budget closed today. Can you outline the next steps in the process for that multi-annual Budget?”
“Minister, it is good that you have confirmed that, because there seems to be a misrepresentation or misunderstanding of the timeline that you outlined last year. For complete clarity, will you confirm that there is no delay to the phase of the Glider in south and north Belfast?”
“Minister, you said that the open-book process could show how the Executive have been underfunded. Will you assure the Assembly that the exercise will not impinge on the Good Friday Agreement and the architecture around it?”
“I gave the example of my father, who was sexually and physically abused by RUC Special Branch, which was supposed to investigate such crimes. How would you expect people, particularly those from nationalist/republican communities, to have confidence in RUC Special Branch when its members were also carrying out abuse?”
“Amnesty International compiled a report on allegations of rape and sexual violence in that country. During the Mau Mau rebellion, 56 British soldiers were tried over allegations of gang rape and 17 were convicted. <BR /> <BR />That is why we need to ensure that any legislation to deal with the legacy of our past is compliant with international human rights law. It must be rooted in a victim-centred approach for all victims. Sinn Féin is committed to that, and we believe that any credible legacy mechanism must examine all harms, including those of a sexual nature. Only legacy structures that adhere to international human rights standards, especially those that are in compliance with the ECHR, will command confidence and, importantly, provide victims with the reassurance that their voice will be heard and their experiences acknowledged.”
“That torture left him with long-term health impacts, and he had to go through 10 major surgeries as a result. It also resulted in his early death, leaving my mother widowed at 52 years of age with seven children — they lost their firstborn. I therefore know at first-hand the direct impact that that type of physical and sexual abuse can have, not just on the victims but on their families. I know about the violation, the indignity, the forced strip-searching and the long-term and lasting impacts of torture. <BR /> <BR />We know that that practice did not take place in isolation. It happened to many, including women in Armagh Gaol who were strip-searched, often with male prison guards present. Such practices were in breach of international human rights law and their use extended beyond Ireland to places such as Kenya.”
“There should be no amnesty, nor should there be a hierarchy of victims. <BR /> <BR />In dealing with the past, we must also recognise that there are different perspectives and narratives and that all voices must be heard and included. My own father suffered torture and abuse at the hands of the state by RUC Special Branch when he was taken to Palace Barracks. He was forced down on the ground and physically tortured, including torture of a sexual nature, by way of electric shock treatment on his private parts. They laughed and shouted at him that he would never have children. Thankfully, he had eight children. That torture continued when he was hooded and forced to open his legs. A foreign object was inserted deep into his body, which ruptured his digestive system, resulting in him having his spleen and half his bowel removed.”
“As was mentioned earlier, we saw that abuse come to light as a result of the Kincora scandal. There is growing evidence that British state intelligence agencies had knowledge of sexual abuse but did not intervene. A Police Ombudsman's report in 2022 outlined how the complaints that were made about the failure of the police to investigate sexual abuse in Belfast boys' homes were legitimate and justified. Had appropriate action been taken at the time, children would not have been further abused. It is important to state that, where any allegations exist, the PSNI should investigate them. There have been efforts made to look at institutional abuse. In addressing legacy, we must ensure that legislation is victim-centred and, importantly, compliant with international human rights law.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in today's debate. As we have heard from everyone who has spoken so far, our society is still impacted on by the legacy of the conflict. That legacy impacted on our communities in different forms: death and injury; trauma; mental health; and discriminatory policies and planning that physically contained and segregated our communities. Sexual violence was part of that legacy, and I acknowledge that it caused huge harm and trauma across our communities. When looking at the impact of our conflict, we see that those voices have not always been heard in the societal conversation. That is on top of a history of poor treatment of victims and survivors of such abuse across our island by state institutions and others in our society, resulting in many crimes not being reported or victims being silenced.”
“A well-functioning framework can provide viable businesses with the opportunities that they need to resuscitate and protect jobs where possible and, importantly, to create sustainability. That is in the interests of workers and the wider economy. It is essential work, reflecting responsible economic stewardship. In strengthening and refining our insolvency framework, the Bill will contribute to a stable and confident business environment in the North. For those reasons, I am pleased to support it.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill contains important technical amendments that strengthen our legislative framework and ensures greater clarity in the administration of insolvency processes. That clarity benefits not only insolvency practitioners but the courts, employees and business owners, who rely on the system to ensure that it is transparent and predictable. Given the interconnected nature of trade and commerce across these islands, divergence without justification would create unnecessary complexity. <BR /> <BR />The Bill helps ensure consistency while maintaining our devolved competence. Importantly, effective insolvency legislation is not simply about winding up companies; it is also about rescue and recovery and, where possible, saving jobs.”
“At its core, the Bill is about ensuring that the North's insolvency framework remains modern, fair and aligned with best practice. Insolvency law may not always capture the headlines, but it plays a crucial role in underpinning business confidence and supporting economic stability. In an economy such as ours, which is built largely on small to medium-sized enterprises, it is essential that we have a system that works efficiently when businesses encounter financial distress. Not every business difficulty stems from poor management. Many firms have faced extraordinary pressures in recent years from global supply chain disruption to energy price volatility. A responsive and up-to-date insolvency regime is therefore crucial.”
“<BR /> <BR />Healthcare should never depend on a postcode or income, or on which side of the border you are born. We can take what is good from both systems and design something new. An all-island system with social care at its core would guarantee that care is based on need, not on someone's ability to pay. Everyone across our island deserves the same high standard of care and outcomes.”
“An all-Ireland healthcare system would allow us to pool resources, reduce duplication and negotiate better prices for medicines and equipment. Crucially, it would allow us to invest more in front-line services; in doctors, nurses and social care. For patients, especially those who live in our border communities, it would mean simpler access. They could attend their nearest hospital or GP surgery without having to navigate complex cross-border systems. We already have good cooperation in specialist services, such as cancer and cardiac care, but we now must plan at scale. Serving a population of over seven million people would strengthen our research, training and retention of staff capacities and ultimately produce better outcomes for patients.”
“Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />Building a world-class healthcare system in a new Ireland would give us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink how we care for one another. At a recent health event that was hosted by Sinn Féin in South Belfast, clinicians, GPs and medical experts delivered a clear message: operating two separate health systems on a small island has led to duplication, siloed working and wasted resources. With just over two million people in the North, our current system is under severe strain. We face an ageing population, workforce shortages and an ongoing loss of staff who are moving south because of better pay and conditions. That is not sustainable. <BR /> <BR />To protect what we value in healthcare, we need to a critical mass. Population matters.”
“Thanks very much. Does the First Minister agree that all political leaders have a responsibility to stand against the inhumanity that Israel is displaying towards the Palestinian people?”
“Minister, will you outline what funding calls are open at the moment and what will be opened in the time ahead?”
“That means all Ministers in the Executive pulling together as one team and all the civil servants in the senior management team providing leadership across the Civil Service, both downwards and upwards. Achieving reform must also involve Members across the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />In the spirit of collective leadership, we will support the motion, because reform must strengthen our public services, respect and support the workers who deliver them and, importantly, confront the funding failures in the way in which the Executive are funded now and into the future.”
“The Audit Office report points to progress that is being made on the enhanced governance work, on the new people strategy and through apprenticeship and work placement programmes, which the Audit Office highlighted. Any time-bound plan for reform must therefore be developed in genuine partnership with workers and trade unions, address the drivers of agency resilience and be underpinned by fair funding. <BR /> <BR />Reform must also be about having better systems and, of course, better leadership. On the issue of leadership, it is important to state that this is not just an issue for the Finance Minister. That may not be to what the Member was alluding, but the Audit Office report highlights the need for sustained collective leadership.”
“Those are reforms that strengthen the Civil Service rather than weaken it. Reform cannot be separated from the wider funding context, however. Indeed, the British Government's failure to provide sustainable funding continues to undermine effective workforce planning. The need for proper funding for public services here is an area on which the House unites. We know that expecting transformation under those conditions is unrealistic and unfair, so we must all redouble our efforts to look at achieving a fair funding model. <BR /> <BR />The Finance Minister has also produced the first three-year Budget in almost a decade. That also allows for better and longer-term planning.”
“Sinn Féin agrees that change is necessary, but change must mean improvement, not austerity by another name. It must focus on smarter workforce planning, on skills development and on reducing inefficiency, but, importantly, while protecting staff, it must also enhance the quality of our public services and deliver real and improved outcomes for our people and our communities. <BR /> <BR />Work has already started in the Department, and there has been a clear effort to lead by example as an employer. Under Conor Murphy, steps were taken to tackle over-reliance on agency staffing and to extend sick pay to agency workers, thus addressing a long-standing injustice. That approach has continued under this Minister, who has a focus on long-term workforce planning, the living wage principles and improved workplace well-being.”
“They deserve our recognition and respect and, of course, should not be blamed. We fully recognise the dedication and professionalism of civil servants across the North. Reform must never become code for job losses, eroding terms and conditions or shifting responsibilities on to workers for failures that sit elsewhere. If change is to succeed, it must support workers, not punish them.”
“Yet, throughout the period, civil servants have continued to deliver essential public services, including through the pandemic and other societal shocks that we have seen such as Brexit and as far back as the financial crash in 2008. That has especially been the case for our workers on lower pay scales who are often at the front line and coalface of delivering services.”
“I thank the Members who tabled the motion. Sinn Féin will support the motion, because it is right that the Assembly engages seriously on the pressures facing the Civil Service and our public services more generally. However, our support is not uncritical, and it is not a blank cheque. Any reform must be rooted in better outcomes in delivering public services, fairness to workers and honesty about the financial and demand constraints under which all Departments are operating. <BR /> <BR />The Audit Office report reflects what civil servants have been experiencing for many years: a system under sustained strain from workforce pressures, structural weaknesses and chronic financial instability and underfunding.”
“Thanks very much, Minister. You previously said that you have set aside £10 million for that in the three-year Budget, and let us hope that all parties can sign up to that. What else have you done to support small businesses since the Executive got back up and running two years ago?”
“Minister, you highlighted some of the challenges regarding social value in procurement in the PPN. Will you highlight some of the opportunities and benefits?”
“We raised that issue in our Committee engagements with the Minister and the Human Rights Commission. I am glad that we have assurances that safeguards need to be in place. In particular, the code of practice needs to be in place before the powers are commenced. That will be important for ensuring that we have those safeguards. I commend the LCM.”
“I thank the Minister for bringing this important LCM to the House. As she rightly points out, we are dealing with the devolved elements, including enhancing safeguards for people and communities here, particularly on child criminal exploitation, and looking at issues such as restrictions on the driving licences of registered sex offenders, enhanced stalking protection orders and advice to the PSNI on the important issue of disclosure. <BR /> <BR />I know that there has been good engagement with the Infrastructure Minister on the second LCM. I am glad to see that those provisions have been included. There has also been good engagement with the Human Rights Commission, and that has been important work, as we have moved through the iterations of the LCM, particularly where it pertains to the code of practice.”