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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“I acknowledge that there are some targets that were missing in the draft Programme for Government, but there are very few.”
“I just want to finish this point. I will come back to you. <BR /> <BR />As I said, the PFG's success will be judged by the improvements that it makes in the lives of the people whom we are all here to serve.”
“I worry that the final document will do little to calm those nerves. <BR /> <BR />Someone just messaged me on WhatsApp to ask, "What is the biggest difference between the draft Programme for Government and the final Programme for Government?". I said, "Well, there were 24 photographs in the draft programme, and there are 64 photographs in the final version". The photos are all well and good — they are very nice — but the devil is in the detail.”
“It lacks the seriousness and urgency required. It also makes no mention of the elephant in the room, which, of course, is the instability of these institutions. The First Minister and deputy First Minister seem set on refusing to address that concern. The truth is that, without reform to stop one of the biggest parties pulling down these institutions, little else in the Programme for Government can be guaranteed. Our public services are in crisis, but the people out there are becoming increasingly frustrated by false promises and the lack of delivery.”
“Parents and providers will be aghast at the lack of urgency and ambition. Which deadline is it? Which one are we meant to believe? I question how the Executive plan to address the childcare crisis without setting a target for cutting childcare fees. I also question how the Executive plan to build 5,850 new social homes while our waste water infrastructure remains broken. Unfortunately, those are questions that have not been answered in the document. <BR /> <BR />Not only is the success of the document limited by the lack of targets; it is set to be limited by the Budget. We are in the midst of a very difficult financial situation, but that is made worse by the lack of alignment between the Programme for Government and the Budget. <BR /> <BR />In summary, the final version of the Programme for Government is disappointing.”
“In January, it was said that the childcare strategy would be brought to the Executive by the autumn of this year. However, the Programme for Government states that a strategy will be in place:”
“The lack of a commitment to legislation on that issue really is a missed opportunity. It is a missed opportunity to tackle poverty and support better health outcomes, including increased life expectancy for those who live in areas that have been left behind. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP is frustrated, as many members of the public might be, by the lack of time-bound and measurable targets in the document. When we debated the draft version in October, the SDLP made it clear that the document's success would be defined by its ability to generate real change in the lives of people and that the lack of targets would act only as a barrier to doing so. However, here we are, six months on, and the final version has only a small number of targets. <BR /> <BR />The targets do not align with previous promises.”
“Several attempts have been made by Governments here over recent decades to address regional imbalance in Northern Ireland, and yet disparities between regional economies continue to grow. The gaps between those who have and those who have not are getting bigger. The reasons for that are many, but the failure to close those gaps is rooted in the fact that the responsibility for addressing regional imbalance has always lain with the Department for the Economy. That can no longer be the case. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP wants legislation that helps to address regional imbalance by mandating all of government to make deliberate and proactive interventions to support left-behind places. That legislation would play a key role in supporting the interventions that are outlined in the Programme for Government rather than act as an alternative to them.”
“It has been more than 13 years since the previous Programme for Government was published. I am glad that, finally, we have the opportunity to debate a finalised Programme for Government today, albeit it is one for the next 26 months, rather than for five years, as it should have been. I am also glad to read the commitments included in the document, such as an end to violence against women and girls, the promise to address the childcare crisis and the commitment to the expansion of Magee. Those are all things that I welcome and hope can be achieved. <BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the mention of regional balance in the document. Its inclusion marks a positive step in the right direction. We must ensure that it is accompanied by the appropriate action.”
“First Minister, given your answer, do you regret going to the US last year?”
“<BR /> <BR />The lack of women's healthcare in Northern Ireland has resulted in some seeking private healthcare: that is not right. Women should not have to choose between financial strain and accessing gynae healthcare because our health system has failed them. That is why women's healthcare needs to be a priority. This month and beyond, I urge my fellow Members to continue advocating for better healthcare for women in Northern Ireland by raising awareness of the difficulties that women face day in, day out. As we mark Endometriosis Awareness Month, I urge Members to support women to be diagnosed and treated for that debilitating disease in a timely manner so that they can move forward to have fulfilling lives with good health outcomes.”
“Many constituents have reached out to me to detail their healthcare experiences, and, frankly, their stories are deeply upsetting. One of my constituents cried sorely as she spoke of the delayed treatment following her diagnosis, which has prevented her from ever having a child of her own. The really sad part is that a timely diagnosis and treatment would have made that outcome not inevitable. The way the health system has let those patients down is painful, and the consequences of those experiences are often long-lasting. The impact on their loved ones and their families' lives must not be understated. I have met many women who have had to give up their successful careers due to the vicious nature of the spread of the disease to multiple organs in their body.”
“How can there be only one clinic once a month for a condition that progresses so quickly and the prevalence of which is so widespread? Women's healthcare in the North is shocking. Women are expected to deal with endometriosis and other gynaecological conditions with little or no support. They are often told that it cannot be treated or that doctors are not sure what is causing the pain. Women in Northern Ireland deserve better.”
“I welcome Verona Murphy to the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />Today marks the beginning of Endometriosis Awareness Month, which highlights an issue that is really close to my heart. One in 10 women will be impacted by endometriosis, which roughly translates to 1·5 million women in the UK. It could impact on anywhere up to 50,000 women in Northern Ireland, yet many are unaware of the condition and the profound impact that it has on the lives of those who are affected. <BR /> <BR />Nine and a half years: that is the average time that it takes for a woman to be diagnosed with endometriosis. There is only one specialist endometriosis clinic in Northern Ireland, which is held once a month. Given that fact, it comes as no surprise that it takes so long to be diagnosed.”
“Does the Member agree that the first step that the Executive Office must take, and one that it can take very quickly, is to appoint a new Commissioner for Older People? That is the least that it can do.”
“— sometimes tell us that they feel invisible, dismissed or sidelined. The Executive must not fuel such perceptions through inaction and further delay.”
“<BR /> <BR />The three areas of health, infrastructure and economy have significant implications for the delivery of our public services, but are the Government really serious about our older people? Do they have a grip on the challenge and a clear plan in place to meet it? We have had commitments on age discrimination legislation in the 2011-15 Programme for Government, the 2016-2022 active ageing strategy and the 2020 New Decade, New Approach agreement. Will the current Executive be different and deliver legislation that can protect and fulfil the rights of older people? They simply must be. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, older people —”
“Others have said that, but that is a really stark statistic, and we are not planning for that future, which is not that far away. Those facts will have huge implications and must be accounted for in government planning. <BR /> <BR />In Derry and across the North, far too many pensioners face poverty. In 2022-23, that accounted for around 36,000 people. Tackling it will require effort from the Government, but, most important, it will require an anti-poverty strategy to finally be published and agreed. That strategy should help to address the cost of energy for older people, improve the quality and take-up of benefits in later life and deal with the pernicious impact of the financial scams being perpetrated by bad-faith actors.”
“Secondly, when it comes to our infrastructure, older people must be guaranteed support when they need it and independence when they want it. That includes proper public transport that can allow older people to stay connected to their communities; public infrastructure that can address the silent killer of loneliness; measures to boost health and well-being, preventing illnesses so that fewer people need to access the health service in the first place; and building homes with adaptions to sustain and support people to have fulfilled and safe lives in their own surroundings. <BR /> <BR />Thirdly, our economy needs to work for older people. It is no surprise that some of the highest rates of economic inactivity are among workers over 50. As Age NI has pointed out, by 2070, there will be only two people of working age for every pensioner.”
“In 2023, 38% of respondents to an Age NI survey reported difficulties in booking a GP appointment when required. We all know the challenges that face the social care system and the enormous challenges that people across Northern Ireland experience when trying to access care more widely. A health service that is fit for purpose in later life is a promise that we make to future generations, along with a care system that works for everyone and properly values the unpaid carers who prop up that health service and social care system. There is more evidence for the provision of paid carer's allowance, which my party advocates, and for the Government to develop and integrate the expertise on artificial intelligence that can help to respond to some of the challenges for our older population.”
“That will have significant implications for three areas, which I will highlight: our health service, our infrastructure and our economy. <BR /> <BR />First, our ageing population presents clear challenges for Health. As people live longer with multiple conditions, we need a health service that can manage that complexity of need.”
“I pay tribute to Claire Sugden for tabling the motion. I know that the issue is very close to her heart, and she is a great champion for older people. I cannot believe that it is Claire's first private Member's motion after 11 years. It is welcome that she is seeking to challenge the Executive on their failure to prepare for an ageing society. <BR /> <BR />Planning for our ageing population is not just a case of ensuring that those who have contributed to our society and economy are properly recognised, supported and valued in later life. It is a challenge of immense strategic importance for our public services, given our changing population. As others have said, by 2029, people aged over 65 will outnumber those aged under 15 in our population for the first time.”
“Thank you, Minister, I really welcome that progress. There were so many missed opportunities that, if taken, literally could have saved Katie Simpson's life. Does the Minister agree that that important piece of work should not limit its learnings to that tragic case but should export them across every incident and case, and that lack of resources should not be an excuse for a lack of professional curiosity from the PSNI?”
“I thank the Minister. The Economy Committee recently received evidence from Transmission Investment, which informed us that the failure to produce proper policy on interconnection is placing the delivery of its interconnector at risk. This is a multimillion-pound investment that will lower electricity prices, provide additional energy security and support decarbonisation. What is the Department doing to support such investments? Will the Minister concede that her Department has not acted quickly enough to facilitate the drive to net zero?”
“What is the Minister's assessment of the Executive's performance as a whole in improving regional balance since last February? Is she confident that enough measures are being taken across government to achieve and deliver that goal?”
“That is the task ahead, and we look forward to ensuring that the voices of the people whom we represent are heard and acted on as those consequential decisions are taken by the Government.”
“Why do we not have a formula that directs health funding to the places with the worst health outcomes? Why do we have confusion over education funding, which seems to make little sense to the public? Why do we not see positive discrimination of the kind that the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) has called for, whereby we overinvest in the places that have been left behind? Investing more in the places that need it is our argument in front of the Chancellor on our trips to London. I simply argue that that should be our argument in front of the public as well, and we should follow through with action by modelling what we ask for. <BR /> <BR />We can meet the challenges only if we have effective long-term government budgeting linked to the outcomes that we want to achieve with detail and strategic priorities.”
“Members of the Executive and the Finance Minister in particular rightly and frequently go on the airwaves and into meetings with the British Government to make the case for needs-based funding for Northern Ireland, and that is as it should be. We look forward to reading the results of the independent review of the fiscal framework to determine the scale of the need that we experience here. <BR /> <BR />It is so important that we get it right, but it seems that we never apply the same logic when we eventually spend that money here at home, as we will see as a consequence of the Budget Bill. If we are so enthusiastic about and persuaded of the case for needs-based funding for Northern Ireland, why are we not as enthusiastic about adopting a needs-based approach to our spending here?”
“<BR /> <BR />I will make three points to the Chamber and the Minister, not about the money that we have but about the way in which we do things. First, we need to see multi-year budgeting, which is a cause that, I know, the Finance Minister agrees with, so that future Budgets can be more effective. We are yet to see any progress on that. Secondly, we need to see the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council (NIFC) put on a statutory footing. For some time, the SDLP has been calling for that to happen without delay. We are pleased to see it included in the 2024 legislative programme, but it now needs to be delivered. Thirdly, there is regional balance.”
“People here rightly deserve a long-term strategic plan to address our challenges now that the Government are back up and running. The Budget Bill and the Programme for Government (PFG) should always be aligned, but that has never happened. All too often, government lacks the creativity and ambition to get to grips with the issues that we face. Take financial transactions capital (FTC) as an example in the Budget Bill: millions remain unspent while crucial capital projects sit waiting to be delivered. Take the Barnett consequentials: we should have ring-fenced that funding in recent years to deal with the huge childcare costs that families face. We have not yet met that challenge, and parents still pay the price.”
“Unfortunately, the Budget Bill does not meet the challenges and marks more of the same from the Executive, continuing with a status quo that ran out of road a long time ago.”
“At the outset, I welcome John O'Dowd to his new ministerial position, and I thank Caoimhe Archibald for her service to the Department of Finance. <BR /> <BR />We all know that we are not short on challenges in Northern Ireland. Years of stop-start government and mismanagement from Westminster mean that we face a difficult settlement here and have profound issues to address. I take the opportunity to recognise that the Executive operate within difficult financial constraints, and, of course, we know that there is not enough money to do everything that Ministers or the public would like to see done. I accept that that work is not easy, but we all put ourselves forward for public office on the basis that we will fix challenges for the people whom we serve, and now is the time to get on with that job.”
“— through the expansion of respite services and the introduction of paid carer's leave.”
“Such a step has been recommended by the Northern Ireland Carer Poverty Commission, which found that the introduction of the scheme would immediately lift 3,400 people out of poverty and lead to a 3·7% fall in the poverty rate amongst carers who receive carer's allowance. <BR /> <BR />Support for carers cannot be secured through financial means alone. As the amendment suggests, there is a need to provide wider support to unpaid carers —”
“It often leads to parents having to give up their career in order to provide their child with the support that they need. That trend is not helped by the cost of specialist care and therapies, which far exceed what is provided through support schemes. Ultimately, that vicious cycle forces parents to become carers and leads to further financial hardship and isolation. We must do more to ensure that carers are not left struggling, and that the full value of their work is recognised and rewarded. That is why we should seek to introduce a carer's allowance supplement. Across the water, the Scottish Government took that step in 2018.”
“Not only are carers unable to work due to their responsibilities but they are doubly prevented from doing so due to the earnings threshold, which caps their ability to earn money at £151 per week when claiming carer's allowance. The whole system is tilted against them, and it is government policy that has tilted that system against them. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the fact that the Minister plans to increase the carer's allowance weekly allowance limit to the equivalent of 16 hours at the national living wage. That is a step in the right direction, but it must be accompanied by a full review of carer's allowance to ensure that it is fit for purpose. As the motion points out, many parents of children with additional needs cannot access childcare that meets their child's requirements. That is another policy failure.”
“Many have said here that the burden of responsibility predominantly, but not exclusively, falls on women. I know many, many women who are providing care for a loved one, and that will be a cost to them when they reach pension age as well. Therefore, we are perpetuating poverty among women right through their lives. With the burden particularly and disproportionately falling on women, as I said, the Government have too often chosen to turn a blind eye to the financial challenges that those women have taken on board. Financial support is limited, with carer's allowance standing, as has been said, at £81·90 per week, making it one of the lowest benefits of its kind in the UK.”
“<BR /> <BR />I heard first-hand about the sacrifices that carers make when I recently attended the Carers NI 60th anniversary event here in Stormont. It was not only a moment to celebrate the work of Carers NI and those who go above and beyond in looking after their loved ones but it was a moment of reflection. I personally reflected on how our system would simply collapse if these unpaid carers disappeared and, despite the contribution that they make, just how far we have to go to support unpaid carers. The reality is that their work saves the public purse billions of pounds every year, yet they receive little recognition or financial support. <BR /> <BR />As the motion rightly states, many carers are experiencing acute poverty due to the lack of support, and many are forced to take on more and more debt in order to make ends meet.”
“I begin by thanking the proposer, Gerry Carroll, for tabling the motion. We will also support the amendment. <BR /> <BR />Unpaid carers are the backbone of our health and social care system, providing essential support to loved ones each and every day in our communities. Our healthcare system — our health system in general — is on its knees, but, if our carers were not doing the job that they do with love and giving dignity to those whom they look after, we would be in complete chaos and there would be collapse and failure at every level of the health system. Essentially, they are supporting the system as it stands. They care for the elderly, parents, disabled children, partners with long-term illnesses and those with complex needs.”
“<BR /> <BR />The motion asserts that the Department for the Economy and the Department of Finance cannot plan for tourism growth, but such planning is essential for our tourism and hospitality sectors. Hospitality is more than just a business sector, it is part of the social and economic fabric of our communities. It is part of our culture. A thriving hospitality sector means jobs, investment, tourism and economic growth right across Northern Ireland. It is also about regional balance, and the hospitality sector has a significant part to play in that. We may be a small island, but we have so much to offer. We cannot let our businesses down and have them lose out because of government inaction.”
“<BR /> <BR />Other European countries have permanently lower VAT rates for hospitality, which recognises the sector's importance for economic growth. I agree that the Finance Minister should work with Hospitality Ulster, other business organisations and the Treasury to ensure that Northern Ireland is treated as a special case when it comes to VAT rates. However, we cannot afford to wait for Westminster to agree to a VAT reduction; we need action now. The action could include any of the following: business rate relief targeted at the hospitality sector; a temporary grant to offset VAT disparities; and a review of licensing and planning law to encourage growth in the sector.”
“If the Minister wants tourism growth, it must be done through introducing measures to support the sector, rather than making it harder for those businesses to compete. <BR /> <BR />Solving the problems that our tourism industry faces is not limited to the Economy and Finance Departments, as has been said across the House today. Business rates, tax policy, skills shortages, licensing laws and town centre regeneration all play a pivotal role in the survival of the sector. Action must be delivered as a collective government. The case for a lower VAT rate for the sector is clear. It would create a level playing field with the South and provide breathing space for businesses, allowing them to remain competitive and retain jobs.”
“The introduction of the ETA and the lack of an exemption are also set to worsen an already difficult situation, yet business rates and VAT levels remain high compared with other regions. As the motion points out, the Government in the South are set to reduce the VAT rate for food-led hospitality to 9%, thereby widening the gap between the North and the South to 11%. The damage that that difference will do in border areas such as mine cannot be overstated. Businesses in those areas, which were already vulnerable, will now be left in an even worse situation as customers choose cheaper options a few miles across the border. The reality is that a hotel in Derry will be charged 20% VAT, while a hotel two miles away in Bridgend, for example, will be charged 9% VAT. Unfortunately, we are used to the border creating economic disruptions.”
“The vibrancy of our town centres is paramount, and we need to work collectively with many Departments to find out how we can support our town centres through the whole working week. <BR /> <BR />Rising costs, including energy, wages and supply chain pressures, often make it impossible or difficult to compete. The cost-of-living crisis, which has reduced consumer spending, has left many people simply unable to take advantage of the hospitality sector and has worsened the crisis. In my city, the level of disposable income is often a key factor when people are deciding whether they can go out and enjoy themselves in the city centre. <BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me not to mention the damage that Brexit has done to the ability of the sector to recruit staff and deal with supply costs.”
“Unfortunately, that is not the reality that the sector is experiencing. The hospitality sector is currently and clearly suffering, and many are hard-pressed to keep their doors open. In fact, many have been forced to close or reduce the length of their working week. Many restaurants in my city do not open their doors on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The city centre can be a desert when it comes to finding a food offering in the early part of the week, and that is not good for business or the tourism industry.”
“I thank the Member from Fermanagh and South Tyrone for proposing the motion. The reality is that our hospitality sector is the cornerstone of our local economy, accounting for four out of five tourism-related jobs. As a representative from the Foyle constituency, I know at first-hand how essential a strong hospitality industry is to our tourism offering and economic infrastructure, given how central the hospitality offering is to Derry city and the wider north-west city region. With a strong hospitality sector, footfall in our town centres will rise, economic activity will be boosted and local suppliers, such as farmers, brewers and entertainment providers, will be better off.”
“Thank you, Minister. I am glad that you have given that assurance, and I hope that it is true. Minister, the public are rightly outraged that public funding could be used in any way to arm Israel and will want transparency. Can the Minister explain why the confusion has arisen?”
“Minister, I wish you all the best in your new role and look forward to working with you. Do you agree that, without legislation to mandate a fairer, regionally balanced higher education policy, we will continue to see unequal provision of third-level education across the North?”
“It is clear that the current system is not fit for purpose and that the review is necessary and urgent. Is the current timetable sufficient to address the challenges quickly enough?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. I understand that you experienced significant frustration in trying to get the plan approved. <BR /> <BR />I am concerned about the environmental deterioration of the Mobuoy site and the pollution of the River Foyle in the absence of proper interventions. Are you confident that the plan will deliver the change that we need? What steps is your Department taking to ensure that you do not miss targets?”