Sinéad McLaughlin
Foyle · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“After decades of silence, being believed matters; having your experience acknowledged matters; and knowing that society finally accepts the truth matters deeply. That is what, I hope, the legislation provides. <BR /> <BR />Throughout the process, I wanted to ensure that, where we could strengthen the Bill, we did.”
“Today is an important day because it is a day of accountability. I welcome to the Gallery all of the birth mothers, all of the adult adoptees and all of their family members. I thank everyone who has journeyed with you and loved you throughout the process.”
“As time passed, I believed that the original figure no longer reflected the recognition as strongly as it should have done, so I was pleased that Members from across the Chamber supported that amendment.”
“Behind every clause is a person; behind every amendment is someone's lived experience; and behind every decision that we make in the Chamber are people who have spent years carrying the consequences of decisions that they never made. That is why the legislation is so important.”
“It is often Members who receive the attention in debates such as this, but good legislation depends on the dedication and expertise of many people working quietly in the background. Today, we complete the legislative journey, but we should not pretend that justice begins and ends with the passing of a Bill.”
“We are here because survivors refused to accept that their stories would remain untold. We are here because they never stopped asking for what should never have been so difficult to receive in the first place: recognition, dignity and justice.”
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“The SDLP has long championed the creation of an independent office to oversee and scrutinise our collective efforts to meet climate targets. The Assembly agreed to that in 2022.”
“My SDLP colleagues and I warmly welcome the appointment of Northern Ireland's first Climate Commissioner.”
“Thank you for your answer. The Minister for Communities has said that he has not got enough money in his Department to mitigate the outlined cuts to the personal independence payment (PIP). Has the Minister for Communities met you to discuss the possibility of mitigations, including the provision of funding for the long-awaited anti-poverty strategy, which would help mitigate some of the far-reaching cuts?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, it is welcome to see additional funding for childcare. However, with families protesting on our streets at the weekend because of the high costs, the funding barely touches the sides. Do you agree that the Budget means that we will continue to underfund childcare in comparison with elsewhere on these islands?”
“We have already seen where isolation leads. We cannot afford to go down that road again.”
“The question is this: how will we and what are we doing to take that advantage further? The Minister for the Economy must set out the steps that the Executive plan to take not only to protect our exporters but to ensure that working people are not forced to carry the cost of economic decisions that are made elsewhere. We must not allow local workers, families and small businesses to become collateral damage in a global trade war. Yes, we are a small region, but we should not be passengers. We must be active participants in shaping the response. That means working with Westminster and Dublin, engaging with Europe and, crucially, taking strategic cross-departmental action right here in Stormont to support our local economy. The tariffs are a flashing red warning light about the direction of global trade.”
“Those businesses are already navigating really complex post-Brexit trading realities, and they are now being asked to absorb yet more costs in an already difficult global trading environment. <BR /> <BR />While there has been some suggestion that Northern Ireland may gain a competitive edge over our neighbours in the South, since the Republic of Ireland's goods will face a 20% tariff under EU designation, that is far from a guarantee. There are no winners in this risky game. Relative advantage is not the same as security. Tariffs hurt everyone, and no one should mistake that for an opportunity without acknowledging the serious risks. Northern Ireland is in a unique position. Our ability to access the UK and EU markets through the Windsor framework gives us a platform that no other region enjoys.”
“I thank the Member for tabling the Matter of the Day. We are certainly living in very difficult and dangerous times. Watching the news outlets this morning after 8.00 am when the markets opened and seeing them slump was very scary indeed. <BR /> <BR />President Trump has introduced a sweeping new tariff regime, with a blanket 10% for all imports to the US. EU goods face a 20% levy, and UK goods are subject to the 10% baseline. Those tariffs are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent a real and immediate threat to local jobs, regional investment and the future prosperity of communities right across Northern Ireland. Many of our key exporting sectors, including manufacturing, agri-food and advanced engineering, rely heavily on access to the US market.”
“The Home Office estimates that the ETA fee could cost the UK economy up to £735 million over five years. Will you publish your Department's research on the economic impact of that on Northern Ireland, Minister? Is that research being used to push for exemptions for the North?”
“From east Belfast to the north-west, businesses are being forced to shut down as a result of the cost of doing business. Minister, you referred to research that you have commissioned: what conversations have you had with the Minister of Finance about the recommendations from that research?”
“Do you not believe that a mitigating circumstance is, for example, the anti-poverty strategy that the Minister has delivered to the Executive? Do you not believe that its content will go part of the way to mitigating poverty and advocating for the poor?”
“Sorry. Mitigations are not always about pounds, shillings and pence. They are also about improving services.”
“Thank you, deputy First Minister, for reaffirming your commitment, but it is meaningless, given that your party blocked funding for Foras na Gaeilge and opposes Irish language signage at Grand Central station. Is your vision for this place limited to one part of the community? Surely it is in no one's interest to manufacture another crocodile moment. There is far too much work to be done.”
“With major events such as the Open in Portrush this summer, the failure to provide proper Sunday services west of the Bann will once again undermine Derry and the wider north-west as a destination for visitors, investment and growth. That is no longer a quiet policy flaw: it is a loud message to the people of the north-west that we are not seen; we are not prioritised; and we are not treated equally.”
“It works out at less than 8p per rail journey across the network, which is a tiny price to pay to end a glaring inequality that has persisted since 2017. <BR /> <BR />Let us not forget that the situation affects more than just commuters. With a growing university in Magee, which is already facing a shortage of accommodation, many students commute into Derry, but only one train reaches the city by 9.00 am. That is unacceptable.”
“The last train from Belfast to Derry is at 9.10 pm, and, on Sundays, it is even worse: 7.10 pm. After those times, passengers to the north-west are cut off. That is not due to tunnels or trains, or down to technical limitations; it is a political decision that is rooted in outdated thinking, and which has been tolerated for far too long. In fact, the three stations — Derry, Castlerock and Bellarena — each receive 2,400 fewer services per year than their eastern counterparts. That is over one million fewer seats for a city that is trying to grow its university, attract businesses and retain young people. For what? We are told that the cost to fix it would be in the region of £1·5 million a year, which is barely a footnote in that departmental budget.”
“I rise to speak, once again, about what is happening with rail provision in the north-west. It is not a misunderstanding or an oversight; it is a deliberate and sustained act of regional discrimination. For years, Derry — the second city in Northern Ireland — Castlerock and Bellarena have been treated as second class when it comes to rail services. <BR /> <BR />Let me give you the facts, again: every station east of Coleraine gets 13 Sunday trains in each direction, which is, essentially, a service every hour, while stations west of Coleraine get just six — a train every two hours. That is not just unfair but absolutely absurd. Only one train from Derry reaches Belfast before 9.00 am on weekdays. That is a complete failure of public transport planning, and it cripples opportunity for workers, students and the wider regional economy.”
“Will the Member explain why he could not support yesterday's motion on the green energy transition, or the DUP amendment, which supported a green transition for industry, yet, today, he is effervescent about Ballymena's being a hydrogen hub?”
“Not only does the north-west have the ability to produce an abundance of energy that will assist in the production of hydrogen, but the continued expansion of Magee to at least 10,000 students can help to supply the industry with the skilled workforce that it needs. Those are opportunities for the future, and the north-west must help lead the way.”
“Significant challenges remain in the efficiency of green hydrogen. Our progress towards net zero will be charted with a range of renewable sources, each playing their own role. Whilst I agree that we must explore all options that allow us to decarbonise quicker, any hydrogen innovation strategy that is produced must be based on evidence that it works, and any plan must ensure that investment is appropriately targeted and makes proper use of public money. <BR /> <BR />The green transition offers us an abundance of opportunities. We can drive down energy costs, upskill our workforce and create a more sustainable society for all. I urge the Minister for the Economy to recognise the unique role that we in the north-west can play.”
“Hopefully, those larger companies can act as a catalyst for local SMEs to become part of the hydrogen supply chain. The ability to develop new technologies and ways of harnessing our ability to adapt to the green transition is possible only if we invest properly. We should take note of the British Government's decision to design a hydrogen storage infrastructure business model by 2025, which is aimed at de-risking private investment in infrastructure projects. Perhaps that is also an opportunity that we can seize. <BR /> <BR />Green hydrogen production, unlike that of grey or blue hydrogen, does not produce carbon emissions when it is burned. That makes it a viable alternative to fossil fuels, particularly for HGVs and industrial processes. We know, however, that green hydrogen is only one part of the energy transition.”
“I thank the Members opposite for tabling the motion. Like many others in the House, I am committed to making the case for green technology for the future. It is critical that we continue to explore how Northern Ireland can best avail itself of the opportunities afforded by the green energy transition. If harnessed properly, the opportunities ahead will help to contribute to economic growth, energy security and climate action. One of those opportunities may indeed lie in green hydrogen technology. <BR /> <BR />As the motion recognises, it is an area in which Northern Ireland is fast becoming an innovator. My Economy Committee colleagues have mentioned the Mannok cement plant in Fermanagh and Wrightbus in Ballymena, both of which received grants from the UK Government's net zero hydrogen fund.”
“The SDLP is committed to a greener and more prosperous future. The longer that we wait, the more opportunities that we will lose.”
“One party in the Assembly controls the Infrastructure, Finance and Economy portfolios. It has the power to make real change, yet we have seen no delivery on an energy support scheme since the Northern Ireland renewables obligation (NIRO) collapsed in 2017, no significant grade upgrades, which has led to the excessive curtailment of wind energy, and we have a planning system that is slower than it was a decade ago. The SDLP —.”
“Of course, planning reform must be done responsibly with consideration being given to local communities, but we cannot let endless red tape hold back progress. The people of Northern Ireland are behind us. Only 5% of those who were polled in Derry oppose the 80% renewables target, while 72% believe that their council is not doing enough to promote renewables.”
“We need a plan-led system that expands grid capacity proactively rather than reactively. A key part of that is the urgent need for the second North/South interconnector, which remains stalled and may not be completed until 2031. That delay is unacceptable and risks having a devastating effect on our energy security.”
“For example, investing in the infrastructure at Lisahally port, expanding supply chain capabilities and supporting the Magee campus and the North West Regional College (NWRC) to train the workforce of the future would establish Derry as a key player in the green economy. It is a chance to reverse years of economic neglect. <BR /> <BR />Meanwhile, planning remains one of the biggest obstacles to progress. Wind and solar projects are stuck in the system for years, while offshore development is held back by outdated policies and bureaucracy. The Department for the Economy and the Department for Infrastructure must work together to streamline approvals and ensure clear timelines for projects. The System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) has repeatedly warned that the current developer-led grid approach is inefficient and costly.”
“If we do not act now, we will miss our target of 80% renewables by 2030, which we are legally bound to achieve. Unlike Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland still lacks a dedicated renewable energy support scheme. That has left us at a competitive disadvantage. We need a structured, long-term support mechanism that encourages the production of onshore and offshore wind energy, solar energy and battery storage to create a stable, low-cost energy system. <BR /> <BR />The transition to renewables is not just about climate targets but about economic opportunity. The north-west, with its rich wind and tidal resources, should be leading the way. Offshore wind in the North Channel, the tidal energy along the Donegal coastline and solar expansion in rural areas would create a thriving renewables hub.”
“It puts our climate targets at risk, keeps us dependent on expensive fossil fuels and costs us jobs and investment. <BR /> <BR />The biggest barrier to progress — our outdated planning policy and weak infrastructure — must be tackled urgently. That is why the motion calls for a renewable energy support scheme. The Assembly should support planning reform. In 2022, 51% of our electricity demand was met by renewables, but that fell to 45% last year. Instead of scaling up, we are moving backwards. Developers face long planning delays, an outdated grid and uncertainty about investment and support. <BR /> <BR />As a result, investors are looking elsewhere and key projects are stalling. Companies such as North Channel Wind, ERG-Evolving Energies and RenewableNI want to drive us towards net zero, but their calls are being ignored.”
“I am deeply concerned about Northern Ireland's renewable energy future. While the Programme for Government (PFG) commits to upscaling renewables production, the reality is that we are failing to act with the urgency required. At our current rate, we will not reach net zero until 2118. Scotland is installing renewable electricity capacity at 33 times our rate, and our share of renewable electricity has declined since 2022. That is why we cannot support the DUP amendment. <BR /> <BR />Progress has, of course, been made, but the pace of change has contributed to rising costs. Our inability to match the pace of our neighbours puts us at a disadvantage and forces our people to bear the burden of government inaction. Our pace of change is not just disappointing but a failure of leadership, planning and investment.”
“Minister, what engagement have you had with the First Minister and deputy First Minister in the past year on the delivery of an infrastructure commission?”
“That was personified by our own Bríd Rodgers, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday. During the celebration, I took some time to reflect on her work. A strong campaigner for peace, Bríd played a crucial role in peace talks. In November 1999, Bríd became one of only two women to serve as a Minister in the first power-sharing Executive. Bríd, like many of her female counterparts during that period, refused to be held back by stereotypical views on gender and a woman's role in society. It is time that we followed her example and did the same. No one else is going to address the issues that we face, which is why we need to lead the charge and must accelerate action towards addressing gender equality.”
“<BR /> <BR />If we are to accelerate action towards gender equality, we must accept the role that men have in addressing the stereotypes that have divided us for too long. That should include the comprehensive reform of relationships and sexuality education in our schools, as well as leadership from the top: men in privileged positions, including colleagues in the Chamber, should seek to use their influence to echo messages of equality and lead by example among their peers. Doing so should help to trigger the transformative change towards gender equality. <BR /> <BR />The truth is that, without the role of women, Northern Ireland would not be the place that it is now. During our Troubles, women were at the forefront of calling for, and working towards, a lasting peace agreement.”
“Every day, parents, but particularly women, are being forced out of the workplace due to childcare fees that far outstrip their earnings. That is just one of the many ways in which women can still be disadvantaged in Northern Ireland in 2025. Those concerns have been raised by the Equality Commission, which has made a number of recommendations focused on tackling gender stereotypes in childcare. It recommended the introduction of coordinated, comprehensive and coherent measures to tackle gender-based stereotypes and attitudes from an early age, right across all areas in life. It also recommended the need for acceptance and recognition of a gender emphasis on women and men taking childcare responsibilities. Of course, those recommendations are also more widely applicable.”
“<BR /> <BR />Data from the World Economic Forum suggests that, if we are to continue with our current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity. I do not think that the world will exist then as it does now. That is one of the big reasons why we need to "Accelerate action". In fact, we learned this week that the UK has recently been knocked back one place to 18th in the women in work index due to our sluggish pace of change on women's earnings relative to men's. That is a disgrace in 2025. <BR /> <BR />In Northern Ireland, we see at first hand how gender equality has continued to worsen due to the lack of government action. That is particularly true when it comes to, for example, our childcare crisis.”
“I thank the members of the Women's Caucus for bringing the motion to the Floor today in recognition of International Women's Day 2025. I also thank all those who are members of or are part of the all-party group on women, peace and security, which I have had the pleasure of chairing. Those members will know that the APG recently met senior officials from the Foreign Office to discuss the need to engage with women stakeholders on gender inequality and the role of paramilitarism. While the meeting was constructive, there was a feeling that change had not been quick enough, and I think that that is the feeling across the board on gender equality. We have come a huge way in the past few decades, but much work remains to be done. In that sense, I am glad that this year's theme for International Women's Day is "Accelerate action".”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I apologise for sickening everybody about my city and region, which I love well. I do not talk negatively about it all the time, but I will say something negative: the poverty rate in Derry sits at 24%. The Member is lucky: he represents a constituency that has half the poverty rate of ours. That is why we need interventions. It is not that we have enough; we need more.”
“We have mentioned that dual market access should be promoted. E&I Engineering is operating on both sides of the border, and it is operating in the North because of dual market access. We know the value of it well.”
“I firmly believe that any strategy to address regional imbalance will be successful only if it is supported by proper legislation. That is why it is in the best interests of all in the House that such legislation is introduced, and that is what I seek to do. <BR /> <BR />The north-west has the talent, the location and the economic potential to be a major driver for prosperity, which will benefit everybody in the North. We must ensure that our businesses can fully utilise dual market access, and we need to finally see the Executive and the Irish Government working together to build a thriving economic region. Now is the time for action. I urge all Members to support the motion, which will improve not only the lives of those in the north-west, but the lives of all our people across Northern Ireland.”
“We no longer want warm words and good intentions; we want a joint strategy that delivers for the people of Derry and beyond and addresses the decades of underinvestment. It should take a new and explicit approach to setting targets for population growth in the region and aim to increase earnings and disposable income per head of population above the Northern Ireland average. The strategy must set out how the Executive will use their levers to ensure that those in the north-west have equal access to the jobs, better healthcare and opportunities that many of those east of the Bann take as a given. The strategy should also lay the ground for specific legislation that mandates all Departments to tackle regional imbalances.”
“Research by Paul Gosling found that it has managed to develop strong cross-border links through greater investment in transport, the development of life sciences and culture and the shared political will to promote the area. If we draw on those examples, the case for developing a new economic task force for the north-west city region could not be clearer. Such a task force could examine and develop coordinated investment, infrastructure improvement, skills development and sectoral growth initiatives on both sides of the border. <BR /> <BR />Ultimately, the key responsibility for such development lies with the Economy Minister. I am sorry that she is not here today to hear the debate on our motion.”
“As the Irish Government's national planning framework indicated, the north-west metropolitan city region is a key enabler for regional growth. Every day, thousands of workers cross the border, which makes it a vital corridor for employment, retail, health, education, social, cultural and community services. Those opportunities have also been recognised by a number of cross-border bodies that operate in the north-west, yet, in the subregional area action plan, cross-border cooperation is mentioned in only three lines. We need much more ambition than that. <BR /> <BR />We can learn from the example set by other regions around the world, such as Basel and the Basque region.”
“The north-west also has huge potential in a number of sectors, including renewable energy and manufacturing. If we are to reach our net zero goals, the region must play a critical role. Its unique ability to generate a large amount of offshore wind and support the development of hydrogen and battery storage will not only align with our net zero goals but support the Minister's desire to create good jobs. As I have mentioned, manufacturing remains a key strength in the region, with emerging potential for Derry to be seen as a fintech hub, and there are local start-ups and strong university links to support growth in financial technology services. <BR /> <BR />The benefits of the Derry-Letterkenny corridor are also something we cannot ignore.”
“Dual market access is a privilege that no other region can claim, and it is about time we started to use it properly for the benefit of the north-west. It would be totally redundant to downplay something that would benefit businesses across Northern Ireland, not least in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.”
“Despite recent progress, we still do not have the university of size that has been promised, and without the quality of jobs that are needed, we are still, far too often, at the top of all the wrong league tables. <BR /> <BR />As the motion indicates, the north-west has a significant economic potential that requires strategic focus and investment — potential that is largely driven by the region's unique ability to benefit from access to the UK and EU markets.”
“Joined-up spatial planning has grown in momentum and importance in the region in recent years. We have an actual opportunity to exploit that for the benefit of everyone through increased government support for collaborative approaches. Special case intervention can then capitalise on that opportunity by directing our focus and investment towards the region. That is what we mean by positive discrimination: measures that can support the region by overinvesting, practically driving capital and opportunity towards the people there so that our economy is balanced everywhere, and everyone has a chance to succeed. <BR /> <BR />Those arguments for the north-west are now well established, yet we still have a long way to go. It is time for the Government to step up and meet the ambitions of our people.”
“<BR /> <BR />Urban centres drive economic growth by concentrating capital, expertise and infrastructure. It is as simple as that. The north-west region, with Derry city as its urban capital, is a significant economic area of scale. It provides a counterbalance in our economy to make sure that we are not dominated by just one city. Focusing on ever more development in the capital simply does not make good economic sense. As Paul Mac Flynn of the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) has pointed out, we can actually effect a leap in productivity by focusing on the north-west region. That can boost the economy across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />It is also a region that already boasts cross-border structures and a focus from the Irish Government through the national development plan.”
“The people of my city know that change is rarely delivered by those in power in Belfast, so the change that we have seen so far is, in no small part, down to decades of Derry people campaigning, marching and advocating for more. <BR /> <BR />Some people have argued about why the north-west needs a specific, special lens or deserves a specific focus. I have become used to having that discussion throughout my time in public life, and I do understand it. There are great strengths in every region, town and city across the North. When I talk about positive discrimination for the north-west, some people ask, "What is so special about that region?". Many see a historical wrong to be righted. I, too, understand that instinct. The truth is that there is an economic case for the region that goes far beyond settling old scores.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. The subject of the motion is close to my heart and part of the reason why I entered public life. The SDLP motion calls for a dedicated economic task force to drive investment, skills and sectoral growth across the north-west. Having grown up in and spent the majority of my professional life working and living in the north-west, I am all too familiar with the barriers that are ever-present for those who wish to provide a better life for themselves and their families. <BR /> <BR />I came into politics to stand up for a place that has, too often, been left behind. Derry is a great city. The north-west is a region that I love with my heart and soul. We have unrivalled potential, innovative businesses and creative people. The city that I see today has been transformed in many ways since I grew up.”
“There are very few targets in the Programme for Government. Surely our ambition is greater than the content of this Programme for Government. I suggest that the Member's ambition for his constituency is greater than what is in here. Today is an important day, but tomorrow and the day after are more important. The Executive need to deliver.”