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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“It will mean that discrimination on the grounds of religious belief will not be allowed when teachers are being recruited. The fact that this has been allowed until now is an anachronism. It will mean that teachers who previously did not apply for certain posts, believing that they would be turned away on account of their religious background, can now, with confidence, apply to teach in any school. <BR /> <BR />The Bill will mean that there is the potential for greater diversity in our schools. The lack of diversity in our education system has been cited as one of the factors involved in keeping our society divided. Our communities are changing. Our schools need to change with them. The Committee acknowledges that this will not be straightforward for many. We have heard that schools are worried about how to preserve their ethos.”
“First, on behalf of the Committee for the Executive Office, I congratulate the Bill sponsor, Chris Lyttle, on bringing the Bill to Final Stage. It has not been a straightforward journey, and it was not always certain that the Bill would make it to this point. However, Chris's belief in the importance of the Bill and in the potential for positive change in the education sector through its provisions provided the impetus to carry on. <BR /> <BR />What will the legislation mean? It will mean that teachers will be free to apply for teaching posts in schools without being asked about their religious background. Yes, some schools will still ask for the certificate in religious education, but that is now more widely available, and there may be conversations in the future to discuss where that is necessary.”
“There are not many days on which we can stand up and speak with pride, but”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank all the stakeholders who have advocated on behalf of the Bill and all who have engaged with the Committees and pushed the Bill forward. Thank you again, Pat, for listening and engaging with those campaigners to make the Bill a reality. I thank the Department for Communities and you, Minister, for taking the Bill on and ensuring that it had the opportunity to pass in this mandate. <BR /> <BR />We will finally have real measures in place to end period poverty once and for all. That is positive politics in practice, and I am proud of what my friend and party colleague has done. I am also proud of Members throughout the Chamber who worked collectively. We got behind the wheel and pushed, and we have got to a place that everybody in Northern Ireland should be proud of.”
“<BR /> <BR />I reiterate how proud I am of the Bill sponsor, Pat Catney, for his unwavering commitment to ensuring that the language in the Bill remained inclusive. Every person who needs to access period products will be included, and equality of access will be ensured: how SDLP of him. <BR /> <BR />The shame will also start to lift as we break the stigma around talking about periods. It has been incredibly heartening to listen to so many people across the Chamber speaking on a subject that has been discussed in hushed tones for far too long. The conversation should not and will not end today, however. Let us keep the conversation going until we dismantle period stigma entirely. Let us keep the conversation going around other women's health issues that are currently treated as taboo.”
“As Members have said, the cost-of-living crisis has accelerated significantly since we carried out the survey. Sadly, I expect those statistics to be greatly increased, and no one should face going to school, college or work worried about not being able to afford vital healthcare products to manage their period. <BR /> <BR />The impact of the Bill should therefore not be underestimated in any way. It will change lives and will ease a financial burden for so many. Gone will be the days of worrying about being caught out without period products or about being able to afford them at all. There will be no more improvising or discomfort, and the stress will start to ease. The issue will no longer burden future generations: what an absolute legacy. I am delighted that young girls will grow up in that new world.”
“This is a great day for everyone in Northern Ireland. Six really important Bills have reached Final Stage today, and they will improve the lives of everybody in Northern Ireland. I am really delighted that we have managed to get the Bill to its Final Stage in this mandate. <BR /> <BR />We have heard from people who have missed school or work because they could not access period products. We have heard from people who have been forced to use unsuitable alternatives, including toilet paper, and from those who simply cannot afford the cost of these vital healthcare products. When we carried out the survey last year, 45% of respondents said that they had struggled to afford period products, and 69% said that they had resorted to using period products for longer than advised or had used unsuitable alternatives.”
“For that reason, the inclusion in the legislation of documentation relating to the disposal of bodies from those institutions is essential. As an extension of that principle, while it has not been discussed in detail by the Committee, it would make sense for amendment No 5, and, therefore, amendment No 4, to stand part of the Bill, but I emphasise that we, as a Committee, did not discuss those amendments as they came late in the day. <BR /> <BR />We look forward to the Bill's passing its Final Stage later today.”
“I will briefly address amendment Nos 1 and 3. The priority of the Committee is that the legislation provides for the preservation of any document that may provide information on what happened to individuals in these institutions and, in the case of children born in them, what happened after they left. That requires the widest possible interpretation. I do not want to see any victim or survivor at a disadvantage because we failed to include the relevant category of document in the legislation. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has engaged with victims and survivors who are concerned about the fate of individuals who died in those institutions. In this case, it concerns the transfer of bodies for anatomical study, some of whom were infants. The Committee has called for an independent investigation into those circumstances.”
“— supported, the rest of us will all fail.”
“Based on the answers that you have given to Members from Fermanagh and South Tyrone and the fact that, in 2020 alone, ten times more jobs were created in Belfast than in my constituency, will the upcoming review of Invest NI deal once and for all with the decades of imbalance west of the Bann? It needs to be tackled for the whole of Northern Ireland because, if parts of our Province are not —”
“These are all questions to be discussed and considered in the two-year transition period between the Bill coming into law and the provisions coming into force. In Committee, we were happy to support the Bill and the technical amendment, which does not detract in any way from the amendment recommended at Committee Stage and moved at Consideration Stage. <BR /> <BR />I will add a few words on behalf of my party. The SDLP supports the technical amendment and looks forward to the Bill reaching its Final Stage. <BR /> <BR />Thank you for your patience, Mr Deputy Speaker.”
“At Consideration Stage, the question of the certificate of religious education was raised. One of the respondents to the Committee's call for views gave an answer to that, saying that Catholic schools did not employ teachers on the basis of religion. They require teachers to have a qualification that is open to people of all faiths and none.”
“On behalf of the Committee for the Executive Office, I thank the Bill sponsor, Chris Lyttle, for his persistence. He was not prepared to give up on the Bill at all. The Committee supports him in that ask. <BR /> <BR />Reflecting on the evidence that the Committee received from ordinary teachers and other members of the public, we know that removing the exception is the right thing to do. The evidence said that the exception had passed its sell-by date, is an anachronism, is grossly discriminatory and is totally unnecessary in this day and age; that it is barbaric to select teachers on the basis of religion; and that this is 2022 — need I say more? <BR /> <BR />The Bill has also sparked a number of related debates. At Consideration Stage, the question of the certificate of religious education was raised. Again, one of the respondents —”
“The Bill and the amendments have the full support of the Committee. <BR /> <BR />I would like to say a few words on behalf of my party. We in the SDLP support the Consideration Stage of the Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Bill. We support all the amendments. We believe that they provide for a tighter Bill, rule out any ambiguity, tidy the Bill up and create good law. It is vital that we do everything that we can to support victims and survivors in their search for the truth. The documents concerned are vital to give individuals back their identity. The SDLP supports the Bill and will welcome its Final Stage at the end of the week.”
“I will speak on behalf of the Committee for the Executive Office. The private Member's Bill that has been introduced by Alan Chambers is absolutely necessary. Its provisions need to be brought into force as soon as possible. The preservation of documents that contain people's histories, lives and experiences must be an imperative for us all. Victims and survivors have told us that they were not believed, people did not understand what had happened to them, their identities had been taken away from them, and their families had been torn apart. These documents are the proof that what they say happened really happened. They are the link to their identity and the evidence of where they come from. Victims and survivors of those institutions have suffered enough. We owe it to them to do all that we can to preserve these documents.”
“I am proud to support the Bill passing its Further Consideration Stage. I support all the amendments and look forward to the Bill's onward journey as it becomes law. I thank my colleague Pat Catney for all his hard work. In the future, many people will look back at the Bill as being a really positive move by the Assembly and an example of good legislation. I wish that we did things so effectively all the time.”
“I support the Bill passing its Further Consideration Stage. Reflecting on the previous debate, it is great that we have finally got back to the future and are talking about the free provision of period products. <BR /> <BR />As the Minister outlined, most of the amendments are technical in nature and tidy up the Bill. We also support the substantive amendments outlined by the Minister, as they will definitely improve the Bill and lead to better legislation. I thank the Minister and her team, who have worked so effectively with the Bill sponsor, Pat Catney, to bring the Bill to this stage. <BR /> <BR />The Bill means so much to people. Throughout its journey, I have heard so many stories from many people who have had to endure embarrassment and shame as a result of not being able to access period products.”
“For both those reasons, the SDLP strongly supports the Bill. We believe that religious discrimination is wrong and that we must move forward in the spirit of bringing our society together. Our party strongly believes in equal opportunities for workers, and the Bill is an important move forward in that regard. I am proud to support the Bill on behalf of my party.”
“I thank the witnesses for their evidence and for the open and frank conversations that we had with them in Committee. I thank the Assembly's Research and Information Service (RaISe) for the thorough and detailed account of where the exception sits in the wider international context. I thank the Bill Office and the Examiner of Statutory Rules for their sound advice. I also thank the Clerk and the Committee team for moving forward with pace on the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Committee for the Executive Office seeks to amend the Bill to come into force no later than 24 months after Royal Assent. <BR /> <BR />I will now make some comments in my capacity as an SDLP MLA. My party was founded to pursue civil rights for all of our population. More than that, my party is proud of its relationship with the trade union movement.”
“At this point, I put it on record that the Bill sponsor has been extremely open and flexible in discussions around how long the exception should be delayed. He has engaged with the Minister of Education to hear her concerns and has listened to the evidence from other stakeholders. The Department asked for at least 30 months but did not give a rationale for that. The Committee felt that a reasonable compromise would be 24 months. Therefore, the Committee recommends that the provisions of the Bill can be delayed up to 24 months, if not commenced sooner by the Executive Office. <BR /> <BR />I record the Committee's thanks to all those who responded to the call for views, whether that was by writing to the Committee directly or through the online survey.”
“The Committee was responsive to the argument that a delay may be appropriate for the required systems and processes to be developed and for appropriate policy development and training to take place. Some members of the Committee felt that there should be no delay in removing the exemption and, indeed, that the 12 months in the Bill was generous.”
“The Department of Education felt that we had not given sufficient time for consultation with the various school sectors on how the transition can be managed. This issue has been debated for many years, with recent Assembly motions in 2013, 2014 and 2021. Why have those conversations not been taking place until now? <BR /> <BR />The second rationale for delay is for schools to be given time to be able to adjust to the monitoring requirements under the 1998 Order. The Equality Commission recommended delaying the removal of the exemption on those grounds, as did the Department of Education.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the issue of ethos, representatives from the Catholic school sector were very clear when they told the Committee that they did not use the exception to maintain the ethos of their schools. Why, then, is there a need for any delay in removing the exception? Other stakeholders, such as the Transferor Representatives' Council, including the Presbyterian Church and the Church of Ireland, felt that time was needed to have conversations about the preservation of ethos. The Committee is not insensitive at all to any of those views. There may be additional challenges to maintaining a non-denominational Christian ethos in controlled schools without the cover of an exemption, especially when other stakeholders ask why there is a need for a Christian ethos at all in a school controlled by the state.”
“I say at the outset that everyone whom we heard from during the Committee Stage agreed that the exception for schoolteachers in the Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998 (FETO) should go. That is what we heard from stakeholders, the Department of Education and the education bodies. That is what we had in the responses from the vast majority of respondents to our online call for views. The key questions raised were about when. The main hesitation with removing the exception immediately was due to two main factors: first, providing time for conversations to take place as to how the ethos of a school can be maintained without the exemption in place; and, secondly, allowing time for the introduction of monitoring systems and for the related guidance to be drafted and issued.”
“After the Bill was introduced on 17 January, the Committee resolved to do what it could to ensure its passage by the end of the mandate. It agreed to invite the Bill sponsor to meet it, wrote to the Business Committee to urge early scheduling of the Bill's remaining stages and issued a call for views on the Bill in advance of the formal Committee Stage. In that way, the Committee had heard sufficient evidence by the time that Second Stage was complete to progress to an early conclusion of Committee Stage. The Committee has indicated a will to ensure that the Bill progresses, and I am happy to support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have to place on record the Committee's appreciation for the determination and creativity with which the departmental officials have engaged to address that setback. The first attempt, through an amendment to the Adoption and Children Bill, was unsuccessful. This method, through a private Member's Bill, must succeed. <BR /> <BR />There is a clear need for records to be preserved. There was a promise that legislation would be passed in this mandate to prohibit the destruction of records. The Bill is the vehicle by which that can be accomplished. Let it not be said that the Assembly was found wanting in supporting the needs of victims and survivors of mother-and-baby homes.”
“way that will respond better to victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />On 19 January, departmental officials came before the Committee to update members on the actions to implement the recommendations of the truth recovery design panel's report. The Committee was told that, while most of the actions that required legislation would have to wait for the next mandate, there was an immediate need for legislation on the retention of records. Two weeks later, there was no longer a functioning Executive to approve the introduction of such legislation. I cannot describe the consternation of victims and survivors at the prospect of having no protection for documents. I was resolved that something would have to be done in order to honour the commitment to make the destruction of records illegal.”
“I thank the Member for her intervention. I totally agree. We have seen failures in the response from the Irish Government. We want to raise all boats and not look to tread that path, because we can tread our own path in a much better and more”
“The Committee was privileged to hear from victims and survivors on 24 November at what was a particularly poignant and moving session for members and witnesses alike. We heard about the legacy of what was done to them and their loved ones. One of the key issues was access to information, and one of the key asks was for the immediate preservation of those records.”
“The Committee heard that an imperative first step is the preservation of records. In fact, of all the issues raised by victims and survivors, full access to complete records was a consistent theme. People want to know how and why such things happened to them. They want to know what happened to their loved ones. They want to know who they are and where they come from. The panel concluded that the denial of access to personal and family records had compounded the long-term pain and suffering inflicted on victims and survivors and their families.”
“I thank the Bill's sponsor, Mr Alan Chambers, for introducing the Bill, which is absolutely necessary. This has to be done now to ensure that victims and survivors of mother-and-baby homes and Magdalene laundries can access the records that relate to their time in institutions that, rather than caring for them as they should have, harmed and abused them. <BR /> <BR />For some time, the Committee has been engaging with individuals who have experienced mother-and-baby homes or who are the children or family members of young women who were taken to such institutions. <BR /> <BR />The truth recovery design panel presented its report to the Committee on 17 November last year, noting that the First Minister and deputy First Minister had committed the Executive to the implementation of its recommendations in full.”
“That is what many of those so-called protesters openly admit to attempting to do. Indeed, I received a letter from one who plainly stated that they see it as their opportunity to force last-minute changes of heart. Yes, everyone has the right to free speech, but no one has the right to obstruct or intervene in a personal healthcare decision. Absolutely no one. <BR /> <BR />Please, let us trust women with their healthcare choices and afford them the right to access healthcare free from harassment and abuse. It is really not a big ask. I support the Bill at Further Consideration Stage.”
“They will not be able to harass or intimidate patients and staff outside a clinic that has a designated safe access zone. Healthcare centres are not appropriate sites for the kind of language, imagery and behaviour that those protesters display on a weekly basis. <BR /> <BR />I recently had the privilege of listening to Cara from Supporting Women Newry speak at a Derry International Women's Day rally. In the face of intense harassment at Daisy Hill Hospital, Supporting Women Newry offers support and chaperone services to women. It has taken things into its own hands to protect the community, but it should not have to do that. That is why the Bill is needed and why the amendments must be made. <BR /> <BR />What else will you no longer be able to do? You will not be able to interfere with women's healthcare choices as they enter a clinic.”
“As my colleague Colin McGrath indicated, the SDLP will support amendment Nos 1, 2 3 and 5 but will not support amendment No 4. <BR /> <BR />I am really pleased that the Bill has been refined in the manner that it has. It has been strengthened during its journey through the legislative process. It is a really good example of how, collectively, we work to deliver for our constituents. I again thank the Bill sponsor, Ms Bailey, for introducing this important piece of legislation. As I said the last time I spoke on the Bill, this is about affording people the right to access healthcare free from harassment and abuse. It will not prohibit prayer or ban protest. People will still be able to do all those things. What will they not be able to do?”
“<BR /> <BR />Access to period products is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is far beyond time that our society treated it as such. I support the Bill.”
“The suggested change in wording reflects the reality that it will be predominantly women and girls who will access those products, but it does not exclude trans men or non-binary folks. The language that is used means that access will be open to all those who need period products. It is as simple as that. <BR /> <BR />I also support my party colleagues' other amendments, which will further enhance the Bill and help to ensure that it successfully achieves its aim. Whether it is because low-income creates barriers to accessing period products or because the impact of social isolation, too many people are prevented from accessing the products that they need to manage their health. We also know that menstrual care can be made difficult by circumstances such as homelessness, abusive relationships and by health conditions like endometriosis.”
“It is vital that one Department takes ownership and leads on delivering access to menstruation products for all. I thank the Department for Communities and the Minister for stepping up to the plate. <BR /> <BR />I also support the thoughtful amendments that were tabled by the Committee for Education. The explicit references to protecting the "privacy and confidentiality" of our citizens are to be welcomed.Both of the amendments on that strengthen and future-proof the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 15 ensures that inclusivity is maintained. I am really grateful to Pat for remaining steadfast and resolute in ensuring that period products will be provided for all who need them.”
“The Bill is a great example of what the Assembly can achieve when we work collectively to deliver for our constituents. On International Women's Day, I am delighted to commend the Bill to the House, and I thank my colleague Pat Catney for introducing the Bill on period poverty. This is Pat's initiative, and I am very proud of what he and his team have achieved. I am delighted that the Bill has earned all parties' support, but, of course, none of that would have been possible without the hard-working activists and campaigners who paved the way. I thank all of those wonderful contributors. <BR /> <BR />I will make some brief comments on the amendments. I turn to amendment No 1. Unfortunately, all too often, I see schemes falling victim to the dysfunction of the Executive Office. The Bill is too important to be left in limbo.”
“Indeed, the Committee has commented elsewhere on the recourse to agency workers and secondments from the Strategic Investment Board rather than investment in the capacity of our Civil Service.”
“How much will they cost, and why are they not budgeted for? The Committee also visited the Maze/Long Kesh site, which has huge potential for development as a major North/South and east-west hub. The Committee understands the sensitivities about the prison buildings, but there is so much more that could be done in and around the site that would pay dividends if it were exploited. That will need to have a budget attached to it. <BR /> <BR />In summary, while the Executive Office has a small budget, it tends to be the repository for important, high-profile and, potentially, high-cost programmes at short notice. The Committee is concerned that the real-term reduction in the baseline funds for the Department may impact on the capacity for timely and efficient delivery.”
“The Department is urged to resolve the issues that hold up such important projects for local areas in the coming years. <BR /> <BR />Areas of expenditure are missing from the Department's budget. For example, in engagement with stakeholders on the development of an important strategy for ending male violence against women and girls, the Committee was told of the importance of funding being attached to the strategy. The Committee also heard from the joint chairs of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition. Although its report was published in December, no budget is assigned to the implementation of any recommendations. <BR /> <BR />Similarly, there are outstanding aspects of the New Decade, New Approach agreement, such as the establishment of new language and identity structures.”
“That was Fresh Start money, which ended in March 2021, but continues in the draft Budget from our own resources. Ring-fenced funds that we would have expected to see in the Department's budget are being held centrally. Those include match funding for the Peace Programme and funding for the dedicated mechanism for monitoring article 2 of the Ireland/Northern Ireland protocol and funding to tackle paramilitaries through the Communities in Transition initiative. Our successor Committee will need to work with the successor Finance Committee to ensure effective scrutiny of those centrally held funds. <BR /> <BR />The capital DEL of £15 million a year is mainly for Urban Villages projects. The Committee noted with dismay delays in capital projects such as Meenan Square.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee has worked hard to ensure that those programmes are timely, efficient, sensitive and victim-centred. Where victims and survivors felt that they were not, the Committee intervened, with the most significant intervention being our call for a review of the HIA redress process. Those ring-fenced funds make up the larger part of the departmental budget. The baseline of £72 million per annum appears to be an increase on the £60 million of the previous year, but, in fact, that makes up for a loss of the financial transactions capital, of which the Department can no longer avail itself and which, in reality, amounts to a £1·2 million cut. <BR /> <BR />The Committee was also pleased to note the continued provision from central funds of £12 million of Shared Future funding.”
“Members will be aware that the Executive Office is a rather unusual Department. In financial terms, although the Department has a relatively small budget, there is often the requirement to dispose of large amounts of money for specific programmes. That leads to significant fluctuations in Budget allocations. <BR /> <BR />In this case, the opening position for the resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) of £120 million is to increase to £210 million for 2022-23 and to £231 million and £230 million in the subsequent years. The reasons for that are the redress payments for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse (HIA), the Troubles permanent disablement payment scheme and the truth recovery programme relating to victims and survivors of mother-and-baby homes and Magdalene laundries.”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, the Committee has been engaged on the issue of the Maze/Long Kesh site, which costs over £1 million per annum to maintain but has huge potential for investment as a major regional hub. It has been undermined by the disagreement over one part of the site, which is the prison itself. The Committee has suggested that there are elements of the site where infrastructure investments could take place. Without agreement, however, that annual amount will continue to maintain a considerably underused site. <BR /> <BR />In summary, the story of the Executive Office has been one of maintaining the regular work of the Department. The Committee was pleased to hear that £12 million per annum of shared future funding would continue while the Department administers essential programmes that are difficult to predict or to quantify.”
“<BR /> <BR />The second related concern for the Executive Office Committee has been the capacity of the Department to form teams at short notice to implement programmes, whether paying travel agents' support due to the impacts of the pandemic — that was right and proper but, in the Committee's view, should not have rested with TEO — or ensuring that promises of redress made to victims of abuse or the conflict are honoured. While the Committee has had nothing but praise for the individual officials who have come before the Committee, the recruitment of agency workers and secondments from the Strategic Investment Board are not a good use of money, as they are expensive and do little to invest in and grow expertise and capacity in the Civil Service.”
“For those who have suffered abuse in what stands out as a shocking indictment of the historical treatment of children and young people in our society the very least that we can do is to ensure that there is a timely and effective victim-centred redress process. That is the reason why the Committee called for a review of the redress process, when victims and survivors of abuse told us that the process was not up to scratch. That is the reason why we have worked with the Department to make sure that the same thing will not happen to victims and survivors of the conflict. It is the reason why we have striven to lay the foundations of an appropriate process for victims and survivors of mother-and-baby homes when the time comes.”
“What might at first glance appear to be a startling inability to budget for and manage expenditure has, in fact, two main alternative explanations. The first is the unpredictable nature of the administration of funds at short notice, such as for victims of the conflict and of historical institutional abuse. The second is the requirement for Ministers to agree on certain matters where they may not see eye-to-eye on what money should be spent on. Certainly, in the case of the former explanation, it makes sense to err on the side of caution to ensure that, in any event, the funding for people who have suffered because of the conflict or because of abuse is accessible and available. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has been particularly engaged on that last point.”
“The spring Supplementary Estimates show a reduced requirement for resource DEL of £32·6 million. For a small budget, that is a significant amount. That reduced requirement has been in the areas of payments for victims and survivors of the conflict, payments for historical institutional abuse redress, Urban Villages, EU exit, Peace IV match funding, COVID management and the social investment fund.”