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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“Sorry, I have a lot to get through, Keith. <BR /> <BR />We need a more positive and progressive Government to persuade more of our young people to stay here, to commit to their futures here, to rebuild our society here and to provide us with the skills that we need to expand our economy and increase the wages of all our people. Over the years, the Economy Committee has received a raft of reports outlining the skills shortages in our economy. They consistently point to skills deficiencies in key vocational areas. Just last week, the Economy Committee was briefed by the skills strategy advisory group. We were told that, over the past decade, investment in education and skills has fallen significantly.”
“The failure of the two largest parties to move on from the past, and the lack of real leadership by those two parties over the past 14 years, has led in a significant way to the skills shortage.”
“I support the motion. I am sure that the Minister for the Economy and the Agriculture Minister will argue that the labour and skills shortages that we are suffering today are not simply the result of the Brexit that they and their party so strongly argued for and voted into place. If the Minister says that skills shortages already existed prior to Brexit, he will certainly have a point. Fourteen years of DUP leadership in the Department with responsibility for the economy has failed to provide the full range of skills that our labour market needs. Far too many of our highly skilled workers and many of our best-qualified students leave the North and never return. It must be stressed that that is made much worse by the dysfunctionality of the Government whom we have here.”
“In order to develop and implement a recovery plan that actually works, there needs to be cross-departmental planning. Failure to take wide-reaching, collaborative action will put livelihoods at risk. We cannot allow the creative industries to be yet another victim of the Assembly's working in silos. I commend the motion and amendment to the House.”
“It is really important to actually be able to earn a living wage that sustains them in their home town. As a city, we are known for our creative talents. We are proud of our exports, but it is bittersweet: we should not have to lose so many people to Belfast and beyond. Nobody should feel pressured to move from their home town. <BR /> <BR />While I am speaking about Derry, I am absolutely sure that the same message applies to many other areas outside the Belfast bubble. It is imperative that there is a 10-year strategy that includes targets for levelling up. That will have the added bonus of making the arts more accessible to a wider range of audiences, which enriches all communities. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I particularly welcome that the motion recognises that the creative industries span more than the Department for Communities.”
“I know that some Members will accuse me of banging on about regional inequality, but the fact is that arts funding is geared towards Belfast. As my colleague Mark H Durkan said earlier, Derry was the inaugural UK City of Culture, back in 2013. We have never realised a legacy of success from the accolade of being City of Culture. Since 2013, funding has actually drained away from Derry and community and business organisations in the arts sector. It has been death by a thousand cuts. It is totally unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />As I have said, I see the outworkings of that in my constituency of Foyle. I have met many constituents who work in the creative industries. They love our city, but feel forced to move to Belfast if they want to stand a chance of gaining a certain level of success in their particular field, as a bare minimum.”
“Let us face it: COVID pressures, the impact of Brexit and shrinking budgets are a toxic mix that means that the sector is struggling more than ever. <BR /> <BR />The current model of sporadic and piecemeal funding often produces intolerable working conditions and most certainly stifles creativity. It is well beyond time for a restructuring of the funding model and the introduction of a clear 10-year strategy that nurtures the industry and its workers, enabling it to build on its successes and to create new opportunities for its future development. The restructuring of the funding model must be done by delivering a long-term allocation of funding and by achieving a regional balance.”
“I support the motion and commend the Member for tabling it. The arts and creative industries sectors create a significant number of jobs and great economic value in Northern Ireland, not to mention the pure joy for folks young and old. They are the lifeblood of a successful economy and thriving communities. Despite that, the sectors are largely neglected. <BR /> <BR />There was the perverse situation of most if not all of us relying on the arts to provide entertainment and escapism during the lockdowns, yet targeted COVID support for the sector was very much an afterthought and took a regrettably long time to materialise. That was a failure by the Economy Minister and the Communities Minister.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Do you agree that a database could be useful when it comes to encouraging victims in the LGBT community to report incidents of domestic violence, bearing it in mind that research shows that about 64% of crime against that group is not reported?”
“Unfortunately, skills shortages in the sector were entirely predictable, with EU workers going back to their homeland. What preparations has the Minister made in order to ensure that a pipeline of skills is available to those industries? Has he discussed apprenticeships and traineeships in order to fill the gaps that have been left by our European friends who have left this country because they are no longer welcome?”
“We need welfare mitigations to protect our people. <BR /> <BR />Once again, the people of Foyle are in the firing line when it comes to the distribution of pain. We cannot wait for the Tory Government to be overturned or for a united Ireland before the people of Derry are treated with dignity and respect. The levelling up needs to start here in the House.”
“Addressing that must be a priority for the Education and Communities Ministers — in other words, once again, the DUP and Sinn Féin, the conjoined twins in charge of the Government. <BR /> <BR />It is no good for the British Government, supported by Sinn Féin, to say, "The worst of the pandemic is behind us, so let us go back to the old normal of poverty payments and universal credit". The Department for Communities has welfare powers now and must develop a proposal to ensure that not one person in my constituency or, indeed, the Minister's loses one penny of their £20 uplift as they face into this challenging winter. We need decisive action led by the Communities Minister. We cannot keep name-calling and finger-pointing at the Tories. They are doing what we know they will do. We have to use the powers that are at our disposal.”
“The Executive must raise the skills levels in the west, which will require us to have a larger university campus and targeted and expanded vocational training in Derry. Skills lead to higher pay and more jobs. <BR /> <BR />It is not just about that, though. One third of those on universal credit are single parents. Single parents in my constituency have had a terribly difficult time getting childcare. They have found it even more difficult to get affordable childcare. A recent survey found that the shortage of affordable childcare was worse in Derry. Increasing the supply of affordable childcare would have a significant impact on universal credit claimant rates.”
“In January, it was 70 jobs with EverQuote. Where is it headquartered? Oh, Belfast. Well done. Not all the jobs went to Belfast: 130 went to Bangor. Well done. Where are the jobs that are coming to Derry? By the way, congratulations to Belfast with its large university campuses, graduates, commuters and highly paid jobs. Where are the highly paid jobs in the west? <BR /> <BR />The Executive, dominated and led by the DUP and Sinn Féin — two parties that, I remind everyone, hold the positions of joint First Ministers — know what they have to do about the crisis of low incomes, and it is a crisis of low incomes. They must commit to regional equality and to putting right the inequality that sees so few jobs going to anywhere but the east. We need more jobs coming to the west.”
“If I am honest, I am even more enraged with our Executive when I have to explain to my constituents why there are not more jobs in Derry and why there are not more well-paid jobs coming to Derry. For decades, Derry has remained the most deprived region of the UK. Why are so many of my constituents receiving universal credit payments? <BR /> <BR />Today, I heard yet again of new jobs going to Belfast. ASOS is bringing 180 jobs to Belfast: well done. Two weeks ago, the Economy Minister announced that Agio would create 100 jobs in Belfast: well done. Last month, he announced 120 jobs at Tribe Tech on the edge of Belfast: well done. In June, it was 771 jobs at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Belfast: well done. Also in June, it was 180 jobs with Version 1 in Belfast: well done. In February, it was 200 jobs with KPMG in Belfast: well done.”
“We need the Communities and Finance Ministers to bring forward a proposal to the Executive to keep the £20 universal credit uplift in the purses of all the people who currently have it, rather than handing it back to the Tory Government. <BR /> <BR />I become enraged when I hear the UK's Prime Minister justifying cutting universal credit by saying that he wants people to earn more money through their work rather than through their benefits payments. His parallel universe bears no resemblance whatever to the realities that my constituents — my hard-working families — in Derry face every day. Is it surprising? It is not surprising at all. It is Boris Johnson, and he is playing true to form. I do not expect him to behave with decency towards the people whom I represent.”
“As it stands, the £20 uplift is being diminished daily, as families face the rising costs of food, gas, electricity, rent and childcare. Our constituents are struggling to make ends meet. We know that the Tory Government do not give two monkeys about the people I represent. That goes without saying, but surely the Executive care.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak in the Adjournment debate today. It is a very important debate. I have a map of various shades of blue, and it quite clearly tells us where the highest levels of universal credit claimants are. They are in the north-west. Unfortunately, my constituency of Foyle tops the poll for the highest number of universal credit claimants. On the map, much of the east is pretty light in terms of blue, which, incidentally, shows where the highest-paid jobs and the highest employment rates are located. <BR /> <BR />The removal of the universal credit uplift will have a profound impact right across Northern Ireland, but it will have a disproportionate effect on the most deprived areas of Derry.”
“That is equivalent to about 50 of the most effective large offshore wind turbines, which means that they are significant sources of additional energy. <BR /> <BR />While we should support the Bill, it is important that all parties join together to demand much more effective and urgent action now from the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities. Let us really make the necessary progress and act much faster than we have to date.”
“<BR /> <BR />Indeed, I will go further than that and encourage Members to learn more about two of the best-practice community energy schemes in the North of Ireland. One of those is Drumlin Wind Energy Co-operative, and the other is Northern Ireland Community Energy, which is also known as NICE. I hope that a third community energy scheme may progress, as I have been approached by a constituent who believes that there is enough force in a local water source to develop a small hydro scheme. Those are excellent projects, but it is a shame that there are so few of them. While community energy is a significant sector in England, it barely exists here in Northern Ireland. In England and Wales, around 200 MW of electricity capacity are produced by community energy projects.”
“Those will include solar panels on roofs, wind turbines in small areas of land and district heating schemes that, for example, make use of waste heat from anaerobic digestion (AD) units. <BR /> <BR />None of this, of course, justifies some of the perverse incentives that we have seen in the past that flowed from the former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) into the current Department for the Economy. Paying landowners more for having smaller rather than larger wind turbines clearly did not make sense and was just wrong. However, that is not a criticism of this Bill. My party supports the use of financial incentives to encourage wider adoption of micro schemes of renewable energy.”
“It is necessary for homeowners, leaseholders and owners of commercial properties to be promised financial incentives to switch to renewable heat systems. <BR /> <BR />Before I go on, however, I will stress that the first and immediate priority must be a reduction in energy use. That means that the Minister for Communities must, as a priority, reform the affordable warmth scheme to support the installation of effective insulation in properties. Similarly, the Minister for the Economy must reform Northern Ireland's sustainable energy programme so that it is focused on making properties more energy-efficient rather than merely switching from oil to gas. However, those concerns about current energy policy are no reason not to get on quickly with the adoption of more installation of renewable heating systems.”
“I support the Bill, but I believe that, exactly as Mr Weir said, there are many issues that need to be teased out. The Bill sets a pathway and, at this point, is a positive concept, and I would be happy for it to move to Committee where it can get thorough scrutiny and we can see whether we can make it much more robust. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP is strongly committed to taking tough action against climate change, and that is why my constituency colleague Colum Eastwood has tabled a climate change and green jobs Bill in the House of Commons. Taking effective action against the climate crisis requires a comprehensive package of measures. Some of those are needed at the macro level and others are needed at the micro level. The effectiveness of those measures will be assisted by the financial incentives that are put in place.”
“The apprenticeship scheme is extremely welcome, albeit it should probably be expanded. We also need to fix the management staff cliff edge that the Civil Service faces. When will the Minister announce a timescale for an extended resumption of the graduate programme, which the SDLP called for in the 'Make Change Programme' paper that it released a few weeks ago?”
“<BR /> <BR />I make this plea to every person in the Chamber and every person who is listening to this statement or reading my posts: encourage people to spend their vouchers in local businesses. We depend on them if our town centres are to survive. <BR /> <BR />I plead with the Minister to fix the broken website and throw all the resources that he has at that. We are spending £145 million on the voucher scheme, and we cannot cock it up at this point. If the problem is operational or to do with process, it needs to be fixed now instead of waiting for a week or two into the scheme.”
“They told me that they cannot afford to keep paying staff who have been loyal to them for many years. I plead with consumers to show their loyalty to the independent, locally owned businesses on village main streets and in town and city centres. We need them today and will need them in the future. <BR /> <BR />Just look at our high streets. I can tell you about Derry. Even before the pandemic, we had serious problems because many consumers had stopped going into the city centre. They bought their goods online or at out-of-town shopping centres. The Labour Party in Britain today announced that it wants to reduce the impact of business rates and increase the tax burden on global online retailers.”
“The high street scheme opened today with a bumpy start. We have had website crashes and very frustrated people. This is an important scheme, and we want it to work efficiently, so I call on the Minister to ensure that all the resources that he has are put to ensuring the smooth running of the online application process. <BR /> <BR />Independent, locally owned retailers and hospitality businesses have been on their knees during the pandemic, while the big supermarket chains have survived without losing turnover. In fact, many supermarkets have increased their takings. Small independents have been in crisis, despite the support from rate relief and furlough. Many businesses have contacted my office in dire straits. Some business owners have cried on the phone.”
“We are facing into a winter where there are major skills shortages in almost every sector, from health through to construction. I am really concerned about the logistics industry, which has major skills shortages as a result of Brexit. Many, many drivers have left the UK to go back to the EU. What is your plan to address those particular skills shortages, based on the fact that everything that we use or need comes in a lorry?”
“You were probably talking about me, Mr Speaker, because I am a bit long-winded.”
“Yes. Materials have gone up in price significantly since the last announcement. How will the Minister address that?”
“Minister, there is considerable frustration and concern in my constituency about the Brandywell stadium. We have a history here of making announcements just before elections and of not delivering —.”
“Those are not coming: they are here, and our people will have to pay them. <BR /> <BR />It is essential that we focus on the future. The climate change protest at Stormont yesterday should remind us all of that. Please let us have no more threats from the DUP about the collapse of these institutions, which should never have been collapsed by Sinn Féin. Instead, let us get steely. Let us really get into delivery mode, reform and investment. We need to get our own programme for reforming healthcare delivery and addressing the already emerging climate crisis, which is likely to worsen the health outcomes for the constituents whom we serve. Let us get back to our job.”
“<BR /> <BR />Yet, just as there is a clear solution on how to increase revenue for health and social care, there is a clear solution to providing a better future. The British Government and the Departments in the North of Ireland must invest in that future. That means that the Minister of Finance must release the funds needed to renew our infrastructure, and it means that the Minister for the Economy and the Minister for Communities must invest in our energy future by putting much more money into home insulation and energy efficiency, cutting our energy use and investing in a diverse supply of renewable energy. That can protect our citizens from the fuel poverty that is about to get worse this winter, with the shocking and eye-watering rise in gas, electricity and oil prices.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our poorest citizens here are about to be hit by an extraordinary amount of pain with the proposed cut to universal credit. I appeal to Minister Hargey to listen to my constituency colleague Mark Durkan and to fund the continuation of the £20 uplift through her devolved welfare powers. <BR /> <BR />Another phrase that we do not hear very much any longer is "build back better". We know why that is too. That ambition has gone. We can see government investment in our future economy falling instead of rising. When the United States and the European Union are planning massive — I mean massive — injections of cash into their infrastructure, the British Government are scaling back their aspirations. We will not be hearing any more of the absolute nonsense about the Boris bridge or the Boris tunnel, because it ain't happening.”
“If the British Government wanted to generate additional revenues to pay for the National Health Service and social care, one solution is clear and very obvious: they should charge National Insurance to the highest paid at the same rate as the lowest paid. How novel is that? <BR /> <BR />Another option is to increase the tax on unearned investment income. That, of course, would not suit the Conservative Party donors. In reality, the main purpose of the British Government's rise in National Insurance payments is to protect the assets of wealthy Conservative Party supporters, particularly those around the South of England, from using what they earn and have in their bank accounts to pay for social care in their old age.”
“I support the motion. Who in their right mind would not? We used to hear the British Government Ministers say, "We are all in this together". It is no wonder that they seem to have stopped saying that, as it is clearly not true. <BR /> <BR />Loading extra National Insurance contributions on to our low-paid workers is unfair and unjust. A low-paid worker who earns about £200 a week pays National Insurance contributions at about 12%, yet a chief executive who earns £1,000 or even £2,000 a week pays National Insurance on their salary at about 2%. National Insurance is a tax where the rate comes down the more that you earn. It is a prime example of an unfair tax.”
“Thank you, Minister. You have answered my question. I was going to ask you to give an absolute commitment to deliver that modern court service to the people of Derry. I note that, in your reply to a letter from me, you talked about the north-west, but we need an absolute commitment that you mean Derry when you talk about modernisation and upgrading the Bishop Street courthouse.”
“Does the junior Minister agree that, at the moment, the high street task force lacks strategic direction and support? It is now in danger of losing steam and momentum. I am really concerned, because this is the moment when the high street task force needs to lead the way in order to build back to recovery and build back stronger than before.”
“The UK Government, through their proposal, want neither the presence of justice nor, indeed, the pretence of justice. The SDLP resolutely rejects the amnesty and any attempt to impose it without the consent of our citizens and our victims. I urge the Assembly to support the motion.”
“Those are important questions that need to be answered, and justice needs to be served. <BR /> <BR />Martin Luther King once said:”
“The majority of deaths in our conflict were caused by paramilitaries from loyalist and republican backgrounds. They preyed on our young people; they stole their futures. The bombing and murdering campaigns of those organisations still have a profound impact on communities. There is no statute of limitations when it comes to losing a wife, a mother, a father, a husband, a brother or a sister. Yes, life goes on, but so does grief. Today, I think of the Claudy families. Today, I think of the Gillespie family in Derry. I want to know exactly who murdered Patsy Gillespie. Who gave the instruction that he was to be murdered? Who was leading the IRA in Derry at the time? Who commissioned his death? Why was he picked out? Are his murderers still walking around in my home town?”
“His murderous acts deserve to be recognised, but, more importantly, the Bloody Sunday families deserve justice.”
“It has become clear that the UK Government have decided to put justice beyond the reach of the Bloody Sunday families. In January 1972, Soldier F went on an uncontrolled killing spree in my home town.”
“If they did, they certainly would not have decided that justice and truth were beyond their reach. <BR /> <BR />As a Foyle MLA, I cannot stand here today without mentioning Bloody Sunday. Innocent civilians were slaughtered on our streets. Families, friends and neighbours were left in complete and utter turmoil. It was unlawful, plain and simple. Despite that, families have been forced into spending a lifetime fighting for justice that continues to be denied. The injustice of Bloody Sunday is in the heart and soul of the people of Derry. That trans-generational and intergenerational trauma cannot simply be wiped away at the behest of a British Prime Minister. I am proud that the MP for Foyle stood bravely on the Floor of the House of Commons and named Soldier F, but I am also ashamed that he had to do it.”
“The British Government's plan to grant an amnesty to state and paramilitary killers is an insult to victims and yet another betrayal of justice. I honestly find it really hard to express my disgust at the British Government's plans, which basically deny victims their human rights. How dare Johnson and Lewis even attempt to frame their amnesty proposals as another step on the road towards reconciliation. I cannot begin to imagine how tough last week's announcement in Westminster must have been for the victims and families of our bloody and murderous conflict. How hurtful that, once again, those who have suffered most are being used as pawns and being poorly served by a Government who, frankly, do not give two balls of roasted snow for any of them.”
“Will the Minister be a leader and a champion for delivering different fiscal policy and for incentivising businesses?”
“Thank you for that answer, Minister. Should we incentivise businesses to set up in our town centres? At the minute, the fiscal policy that we operate penalises businesses that do so. There is no level playing field. While bricks-and-mortar businesses are penalised and taxed for setting up in city centres, online shopping has experienced great growth in recent years and is not going away, so we need a complete review of how we do business and taxation in Northern Ireland. I would like to see you being a leader in delivering that policy, Minister.”
“The response highlighted that it was likely that any director attempting to commit the types of frauds or fraudulent actions that the legislation is aimed at would have the foresight and ability to do exactly the same and render it meaningless. The point was also raised about efficiencies in the investigative methods, suggesting that the enforcement regime needs to be changed in order to compel such directors to comply and that there should be repercussions that actually impact on their activities. The Committee asks that the Minister engage with stakeholders about the issues on the Bill that have been raised.”
“The Committee is very grateful for all the responses that it received. <BR /> <BR />The responses indicated a general support for the rationale of the Bill. Stakeholders recognised that the amendments should provide a further deterrent against fraud, particularly given the various government schemes to provide loans of public money during the pandemic. One respondent called for the provisions to be accompanied by additional resources to support the Insolvency Service in carrying out its investigatory role under the legislation. Another respondent, while supporting the provisions, highlighted the general inefficiencies in the powers to deal with director fraud.”
“On 4 May 2021, the Department wrote to inform the Committee of the introduction of the Bill and to inform it that the Minister intended to introduce the LCM in order to enable amendments to legislation here to be tabled in the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Given the limited time frame, at that stage the Committee wrote to stakeholders to seek their views by 21 May. The brief consultation was based on the information that the Committee had already received from the Department at that time. However, at that point, it did not include the Bill or the legislative consent memorandum. The Committee received responses from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Federation of Small Businesses, Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade and Deloitte. Due to considerable time restrictions, the Committee was not able to take oral evidence on the Bill or the LCM.”