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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“<BR /> <BR />The Committee considered the rule on 15 May 2024 and later noted that the Examiner of Statutory Rules had no concerns in respect of the regulations. The Committee indicated that it was content for the regulations to be affirmed by the Assembly.”
“I will speak briefly on behalf of the Committee for the Economy. <BR /> <BR />As the Minister said, the regulations address problems that arise from the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023. The Act may have removed certain interpretative effects, creating a risk that the case law defining what should be included in normal remuneration would fall away. Consequently, the statutory rule amends the Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 to clarify what is meant by maternity leave, adoption leave, shared parental leave, parental leave and paternity leave. The rule also clarifies that compensation related to an entitlement to leave will cover unused leave at the point that a worker's employment is terminated in certain circumstances.”
“I thank the First Minister for her statement, which is really welcome and long overdue. Will she give a commitment that, if any religious order does not contribute fully to the redress scheme, the state will pursue its assets to secure payment in full? Will you confirm the date when we will know the value of the final payments?”
“I have been asking for an answer to that question for some time. Obviously, preparations must be well under way. On the basis of those figures, 500 new students could come in. Have you any idea whether those will be additional places above the maximum student number (MaSN)? Will existing courses be expanded, or will there be additional courses? That is important so that we can plan for the economy. We would like to know: we are going into July next week.”
“Junior Minister, have you considered and responded to the request from the Education Minister to reverse the decision to remove funding from that school's transport? If so, what rationale have you used?”
“As they leave school, everyone should have the freedom to move away, whether across the sea or across the border, but they should also have the freedom to stay and pursue their passions right here at home, contributing to the place where they were born and raised and driving economic growth. Both choices are fair and legitimate but we need to make sure that a choice really does exist and that no one is pushed away. <BR /> <BR />Whatever designation you deem yourself to be, it is in everyone's interests for Northern Ireland to work. That includes building a society where no one has to move away. That starts with putting on paper a strategy that is co-produced, ambitious and comprehensive. I hope that all parties will back the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is also a timing issue in that UCAS offers are made two weeks before those made by the Central Applications Office (CAO), driving more students to the UK system. Furthermore, schools must be fully supported to provide careers advice that includes guidance on the system in the South and the opportunities that exist on their doorstep. <BR /> <BR />It seems strange that the DUP would not want to get a grip on those issues and break down those barriers for the people whom they represent as well. We have only a short time in this mandate, and already we have said more times than I can count that there is nothing to fear from collaboration. At the core of this issue is opportunity and freedom of choice for all our young people.”
“That followed calls from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Royal Irish Academy. <BR /> <BR />However, there are still a range of barriers and questions to answer about whether the system remains too restrictive. Anyone who has read the ESRI report on the issue will know that it also raised concerns that the small number of pupils in Northern Ireland studying languages impacted on the eligibility of our young people to take up certain courses. In response to questions for written answer, the Minister of Education does not appear to have accepted that as a barrier. He may not have engaged with the research, but it is clear that we need to arrest the decline in the study of modern languages if we are going to give more young people the opportunities that they deserve.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also do not comprehend the logic of removing the duty to collaborate with the Irish Government. Does the DUP not want all young people to be able to easily study at Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin (UCD) or the University of Galway? Why take opportunities and possibilities away on a small island? Barriers already exist to cross-border mobility that none of us should be prepared to stand over. In 2020-21, students from the South made up 2·4% of students in Northern Ireland compared with only 0·6% of students in Ireland being from Northern Ireland. The reasons for that are many and well-documented. Universities in the South are already difficult to access. Recent progress by the Irish Government on the need for a fourth full A level is welcome.”
“That we are continuing to export a university's worth of students while failing to build the promised university in our own second city is pure madness. It is sabotaging the economy as a whole that we are not producing the skilled graduates of the future, who are needed for our economy. That is pure madness and has to stop. <BR /> <BR />When the previous Minister was leaving office, he announced a full review of higher education funding, but this Minister has rolled back on that commitment. Having somewhat praised the DUP, I have to be honest about its amendment and say that I really fail to understand the point of it. Removing the Minister of Education's responsibility for this issue borders on irresponsible. We need everyone working together on this, especially the two Ministers who are clearly responsible for the area.”
“There can be little doubt that the brain drain is fuelled by the lack of investment in skills and education by the Government over recent years. Queen's University alone has suffered a cut of almost £50 million in real terms in the past 10 years. That university is generating over £3 billion for the economy and leading the world in advanced manufacturing, ICT, creative industries and digital industries. What other jurisdiction is cutting higher education and investment in skills? The answer is none — certainly none that is serious about growing a knowledge-based economy. Given the expected growth in the number of 18-year-olds by the end of the decade, it is completely counterproductive. <BR /> <BR />The brain drain and lack of investment in higher education have particular consequences in a place such as Derry.”
“Of course, it is not the only contributing factor; the low level of educational attainment among school leavers is also a significant challenge. For many years, we have suffered from chronically low levels of skills here that are rooted in educational underachievement. That is an issue that we have referenced in the motion. It is only compounded by the educational migration from these shores.”
“<BR /> <BR />Arresting the brain drain will require tackling those root causes, breaking down segregation, integrating our society and reforming our politics. However, it is important to say that it is not just a cultural issue. We are not just talking about it because we would like our young people to stay; the brain drain is a handbrake on our economy. It has a direct and profound impact on our low rate of productivity, which has repeatedly been our Achilles heel in this part of the world. According to the Productivity Institute, Northern Ireland's productivity level is 75% of the EU average and only around half the level experienced in the South. Its findings are clear: the brain drain has fuelled the low presence of highly skilled workers, which undermines our productivity time and again.”
“As has been outlined by the think tank Pivotal, those challenges include the fact that they are fed up with a segregated and divided society and are frustrated by the sectarian tensions that are still all too prevalent in our communities. Too often, the external perception of this place is that it is somewhere that still has not moved on and cannot get its act together. It is a feeling that is, no doubt, compounded by watching our political instability at home and from afar. As I have said, when things get too hard, the big parties sometimes take turns at bringing this place down and preventing any form of strong leadership or positive change. That would not incentivise anyone to come home.”
“They cannot set up the life here that they want because they cannot pursue the careers that they want here and because there are not the university places for them here, either. <BR /> <BR />As has been well documented, each year, the number of those young people stands at around 5,000. We know that two thirds of them do not return after their degree. An entire university's worth of students from Northern Ireland is currently studying across the water in Britain. That is self-sabotage. It is self-inflicted by government policy that drives our young people away and fails to tackle the root causes of the systemic issues that push them away.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I think that we all agree that it is no surprise that some of our young people want to spread their wings once they leave school. Moving abroad can offer no end of new opportunities and experiences. I do not think that any of us would begrudge our young people who want to leave in search of different and new experiences. I have two daughters, both of whom moved away, but I am hopeful — fingers crossed — that Aoife, who is in her early 30s, will return home quite soon. <BR /> <BR />I understand why young people leave in search of new horizons. However, that having been said, there is no doubt that a real and pressing problem exists in our society and economy today when it comes to the sheer number of young people who are forced to leave our shores every year.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Has the Minister responded? Will he be in attendance?”
“However, I have worked for many years with the chamber of commerce in Derry, and we have pushed for Derry to be part of the Wild Atlantic Way for as long as it has been up and running. We saw the opportunity for us to be at the beginning and end of something quite significant and special on the island.”
“I thank the Member for taking an intervention. I appreciate what he is saying.”
“— and making investments that are worthy of the sector's potential.”
“The full roll-out of the scheme by early 2025 must be stopped, and we are asking for a statement on progress on the issue by no later than September this year. While I understand that the Minister has written to the Home Office Ministers on that, we cannot keep on just writing letters. Hopefully, a new Government in Westminster will be more receptive to his engagement. I want to see the plan from the Minister and concrete actions. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I urge the Minister to progress the development and funding of the tourism strategy and the action plan to go alongside it. While the Minister's new partnership board is welcome, we need to see long-awaited delivery to support our communities and their potential by building on the progress of the past 26 years —”
“The scheme, which is estimated to result in a loss of more than £160 million per year, is both flawed and misguided. It could have been dreamt up only by a Tory Government that lack knowledge and understanding of this island. Research has shown, in black and white, that that would discourage people from moving North to South, and the sector as a whole has been sounding the alarm. The Minister needs to work with the whole Executive to agree a position against the ETA. <BR /> <BR />We do not feel able to support the DUP amendment, which would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A time-bound exemption to the electronic travel authorisation scheme would not solve the problem; it would only lead to confusion on the part of our visitors.”
“Given the enormous shared history of those counties for both major traditions on this island, the potential for telling our shared story to the world through an increased tourism offering cannot be overestimated. I hope that we can make progress at pace on the expansion of those brands. <BR /> <BR />There is also so much more that we can do for the sector as a whole. If we invest, we can grow it to be at least a £2 billion industry by 2030. However, we all know that the all-island tourism market faces significant challenges, not least in the form of the electronic travel authorisation scheme. Dublin Airport remains the biggest port of entry for most visitors to this part of the island. The proposal threatens that mobility and represents an existential challenge to the sector in some areas.”
“This concept has been discussed for many years, but I see no evidence of an action plan on linking those brands or of costings for signage, for example, which will be fairly significant. We all know the benefit of linking up those routes, so let us get on with it to attract people to that part of our island so that they can see our integrated offering. <BR /> <BR />In Newry, Mourne and Down, my colleagues have been campaigning for the inclusion of Counties Armagh and Down in Ireland's Ancient East. Bringing those counties into the brand could drive exponential growth in the tourism industry. However, it is not only a vehicle for economic growth: including Armagh and Down in Ireland's Ancient East is a vehicle for reconciliation.”
“I am also happy to confirm our support for the Sinn Féin amendment on the inclusion of Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. Supporting the integration and inclusion of those brands is not diluting our own tourism brands, as each region will continue to promote its own tourism assets, from the lakes of Fermanagh to the walls of Derry, the glens of Antrim, the Mountains of Mourne and many other beautiful places in between. <BR /> <BR />I have to be honest and say that, when I pressed departmental officials at the Economy Committee a few weeks ago about the integration of those globally recognised Irish brands, I was surprised to hear about the slow pace of progress.”
“I am pleased to move the motion on all-Ireland tourism. For the past 26 years, tourism has driven higher employment, productivity and better well-being for so many people. In 2019, the sector contributed over £1 billion in revenue. Prior to the pandemic, it employed almost 71,000 people in the region, which is an increase of 9% since 2017. <BR /> <BR />We have a huge opportunity to work together as an island to build on that, including by extending the already successful Wild Atlantic Way brand into Northern Ireland. Since I was elected, I have been making the case for the extension of the Wild Atlantic Way and, importantly, the promotion of Derry as the regional capital that links our two jurisdictions.”
“Will the Minister look into that matter and see whether we can get her out of that temporary accommodation, now? It is affecting her mental health and well-being, and that of her two children.”
“Thank you for your answer, Minister. Non-standard temporary accommodation has risen by over 500% in my constituency. I am dealing with a particularly distressing case in which one of my constituents — a young woman who has just had a caesarean section — has been returned to a hotel bedroom along with her baby and toddler. That is no way for a child to start their life.”
“I thank the Minister. I really appreciate the urgency with which he is taking action on the issue. The Mobuoy site has serious environmental implications, but it also has implications for our economy. It is holding up progress on the A6. Will the Minister detail how he will work with the Minister for Infrastructure to ensure that progress is finally made on that crucial issue and that the delay in one issue does not kill progress on the A6?”
“The SDLP has been resolute in calling for a tourism strategy and action plan that is fit for purpose and includes investment that commits to concrete and tangible measures and targets for those industries. <BR /> <BR />We must back up the warm words that are often said in the Chamber about hospitality and tourism with the action that East Antrim and every other constituency needs. I wish East Antrim many, many tourists with full pockets of money over the holiday season and, in fact, right through the autumn and at other times. It has a lot to offer, including the warmth of its people. I welcome being part of the debate.”
“<BR /> <BR />The tourism sector across the North is one of the biggest success stories of our peace process. However, the sector faces challenges, including a need to support businesses that are driving the sector's growth and a lack of a coherent approach from the Government. We cannot debate the challenges facing tourism in any part of Northern Ireland without raising the crucial need for mitigations when it comes to the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme. The sector has been crystal clear that the ETA is unworkable here, and, in fact, it has the potential to be deeply damaging. We need to see Ministers in Stormont stepping up and marshalling opposition to its implementation.”
“I have no doubt that it will state some of the challenges that the Member outlined in opening the debate. Tourism growth can help every part of Northern Ireland to thrive, not least East Antrim, which already has a lot to offer. I have no doubt that we will, as I said, also hear about the challenges, especially as a result of the lingering effects of the pandemic. Indeed, the rising cost of doing business is, itself, a challenge. As Ms Brownlee mentioned, those challenges include the need for support for recruitment and retention in the sector, including the development of hospitality skills that are badly needed. A total of 17% of businesses in the hospitality industry have reported that they are at risk of failure in the next year, with intervention needed as a matter of urgency on small business rates relief and a cut in VAT.”
“It is a favourite spot for day trippers as well as those who stay longer, and we need to get people to stay longer when they do come to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The hospitality sector is fundamental to the success of that offering across East Antrim, in particular to the success of the tourism industry. It is the lifeblood of a thriving economy in any community, generating and driving wealth as well as social inclusion, and improving well-being. In fact, every £100 spent in the hospitality industry generates added value to the local economy of about £58, and that is a really impressive return on investment. <BR /> <BR />Tomorrow, the Economy Committee will be pleased to hear evidence from Hospitality Ulster about the challenges and opportunities for the sector.”
“I welcome this debate on hospitality and tourism in East Antrim, and thank Ms Brownlee for securing it. She is passionate about her constituency, as I am about mine, and when you visit East Antrim, it is not hard to see why. <BR /> <BR />East Antrim, from Cushendun down to Carrickfergus, has some of the most breathtaking views that you will see anywhere in Northern Ireland, and, like my beautiful city of Derry, culture and history also rhyme in Carrickfergus. It is an area of profound natural beauty that encapsulates some of the most beautiful areas across the North. When people visit the glens of Antrim, it is no exaggeration to say that the views that they find are some of the most spectacular on this island.”
“By working together across the Chamber, we can deliver change, make progress on energy efficiency and bring costs down for our consumers — our constituents.”
“We support the call from the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations for a ring-fenced section of the Westminster social housing decarbonisation fund of £3·8 billion to help to deliver that transition. The federation has been clear that it is a fundamental requirement of the Executive to develop a plan to improve energy efficiency, including through funding areas that can demonstrate need. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge that social housing can be only the start of our efforts. While 79% of social housing has an energy-efficiency rating between A and C, only 43% of private-rental dwellings share such a rating. We cannot limit our ambition to social housing. We need to consider how to retrofit our schools, hospitals and other public buildings. We can start with our social housing, and we can start now.”
“The proposal is ambitious by its nature, but ambition is sorely needed. We have the least energy-efficient homes of any country in western Europe. I will say that again: we have the least energy-efficient homes of any country in western Europe. Houses here lose heat up to three times faster than those of our neighbours. Changing that in the North will require us to look at our regulations and the housing that we invest in. We all heard the worrying evidence last week that the Budget will allow for just 400 new homes to be built, half the number that the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations views as the worst-case scenario. We are building nowhere near the number of homes that we need, and the homes that we are building are not fit for purpose from an energy-efficiency standpoint.”
“If we are to reach our net zero targets, however, we need to take really bold steps, including some on a cross-departmental basis, particularly given the Department for Communities' lead on the residential building section of the climate action plan (CAP). We need to step up and lean into the retrofitting agenda without delay and end the lack of urgency that has characterised the issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />In response to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee's inquiry into renewable energy and net zero, Queen's University Belfast has said that concentrating home retrofitting in those areas with the lowest incomes initially can help to tackle fuel poverty, reduce emissions, produce positive health outcomes and offer new forms of social and economic regeneration.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome hearing from the Minister that departmental officials are preparing a public consultation on the low-carbon heat support scheme in line with action 8 of the energy strategy action plan. It is also good to hear recently from the Minister about a consultation on evidence-based options for a domestic energy efficiency programme in line with action 7 of the same action plan. Many people were rightly concerned by the closure of the boiler replacement scheme last September due to budgetary constraints. I hope that it goes without saying that new schemes must be targeted at disadvantaged areas.”
“<BR /> <BR />In May 2023, the Forum for a Better Housing Market published research that found that Northern Ireland lags behind other regions in decarbonisation. That was found to be partly because a lacklustre approach has been permitted to be fostered, thanks to a fragmented policy landscape with a lack of agreed targets and associated milestones. The progress on that has also been frustrated by the constant instability of government here. In 2020, a report was produced to inform the evidence base of the energy strategy. It found that we need to drive the retrofitting of more than 50,000 buildings per year in Northern Ireland, which was more than treble the rate at the time, and that a dramatic change in policy extent and funding levels is required.”
“It also makes sense for our economy, since the ambition to retrofit our homes will drive innovation and a new generation of green jobs with increased demand for technical skills that can align with such a programme. Those skills will primarily be found in our further education colleges, representing a significant opportunity for that sector. We also cannot overestimate the health benefits of such a retrofit programme. Our cold draughty homes drive illness and chronic pain across all our communities. I have come across more people than I care to who have bronchitis or are suffering from asthma because of the mould in their home. Our health service cannot cope with that, and it can least afford that demand on it at this time.”
“<BR /> <BR />We all know that retrofitting makes sense. It makes sense for the environment and for reaching our net zero targets, especially given that we need to deliver energy savings of 25% from buildings and industry and that 27% of our emissions come from domestic sources. SSE called for a framework to be put in place to foster the development of a deep retrofit market in Northern Ireland, including a public body with responsibility for running retrofit schemes. SSE also stated that achieving the higher energy efficiency band across building stock would amount to energy savings of up to £700 per household and reduce each household's carbon output by 3·7 tons.”
“The Tories cut energy efficiency programmes way back in 2013, and, 10 years later, those programmes stood at a figure that was 10 times lower than that of 2010. In its plans to form the Government, the British Labour Party stated that it would give devolved Governments and local authorities powers and resources to upgrade cold and draughty homes in their areas. In Westminster, the SDLP's MPs intend to hold the next Government to account on that pledge. In addition to the work at Westminster, we can take some crucial steps in the Assembly, which include the Minister for the Economy working with the Minister for Communities to agree a large-scale social housing retrofit programme in order to reduce domestic fossil fuel consumption and increase energy efficiency, starting with communities that are in the areas of highest disadvantage.”
“I have visited constituents who are simply pumping money into an inefficient property through no fault of their own. Our amendment is therefore intended to place the retrofitting agenda at the front and centre of our discussions on the energy market, where it belongs. We have championed that cause repeatedly at councils, in the Assembly and at Westminster, where my colleague Claire Hanna MP has worked as part of the all-party group on the green new deal to bring forward proposals and support legislation to create a universal basic energy allowance and a retrofitting strategy. <BR /> <BR />That cause, however, has been significantly undermined by the Conservative Government's actions at Westminster.”
“I wholeheartedly agree that the transition to net zero means that, in future, hopefully, oil will be phased out altogether. The reality, however, is that many thousands of people in Northern Ireland still use it, and it must be regulated. <BR /> <BR />Regardless of the benefits of any fossil fuel regulation or, indeed, the transition to renewables, if homes are not made to be energy-efficient, we will never make the progress that we need to make in bringing down costs to consumers. As has been said many times, the cheapest form of energy is the one that you do not use at all. Simply put, if heat is leaving through the windows and doors of our houses because of energy inefficiency, we can never expect success from the energy strategy.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome the motion and thank those who tabled it. It provides an important opportunity in the Assembly to discuss one of the most pressing aspects of the Minister's economic strategy, namely our energy policy. There can be no doubt that we must take advantage of the huge opportunities in our energy market across this island. It is a crucial part of our economic potential and a vital piece of the jigsaw in combating the climate emergency. In particular, I welcome the motion's focus on the regulation of oil. The motion is right to call attention to the interdependent relationship of the cost-of-living crisis and the cost of energy. More than two thirds of people here use home heating oil.”
“<BR /> <BR />I understand that it represents only the beginning of the Executive's legislative programme, but I think that the public will be underwhelmed by the lack of urgency that the Executive parties are collectively displaying and the slow pace of change in our politics. The public deserve speedy action on the issues that they care about a lot —.”
“Members might think that I am a broken record on that topic — truth be told, I wish that I did not have to be — but nowhere in the legislative programme can I see a commitment to legislation on regional balance or any indication of how that body of work will level the playing field between different places. There are many objectives in this place. We all believe in causes that hold a special place in our politics, but surely we have some common ground in ensuring that everyone, regardless of postcode, has the opportunity to go as far as their talents will take them. The Economy Minister is aware that I am convinced that only legislation will address the issue of regional imbalance in a long-term and sustainable fashion.”
“The party of the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs promised an environmental Bill to create an independent environmental protection agency, but, in the middle of the biggest ecological disaster in living memory, we still do not see that coming through on the books. The Minister for the Economy has talked about legislating for the rights of unpaid carers, but, as we speak, tens of thousands of carers are still forced to choose between pursuing their career or caring for their relative. On each of those issues and many more the programme shows that people will be left waiting for another year at least. <BR /> <BR />I also want to address the issue of regional balance in the programme or the lack thereof.”