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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“As Ciara Ferguson and Emma Sheerin both outlined, the loss of EU membership and EU funding has been a body blow for the community and voluntary sector in all our communities, particularly in west Belfast, Derry and other border areas, which have suffered greatly as a result of us leaving the European Union. I just cannot understand why Gerry Carroll cannot join up those dots.”
“The European Union will focus on competitiveness, energy security, resilience and economic stability: those are not distant policy themes; they speak directly to the challenges that we face. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland's economy is still adjusting to the realities of Brexit. I agree with others, including Steve Aiken, about the difficulties of the Windsor framework. Businesses continue to navigate additional processes, and many seek greater clarity and smoother cooperation between the UK and the EU. Stability in that relationship is not an abstract diplomatic goal; it underpins jobs and investment in our communities.”
“It is at times such as these that stability and cooperation matter more than ever. <BR /> <BR />For Northern Ireland, because it affects energy prices, international instability is not something that we watch on television and then forget about. Energy prices here shot up this morning by over 10%. In many ways, some of the energy companies are profiteering off the back of that instability. There was no need for those rises to happen at the minute, as they bought the oil at significantly lower prices than what they were selling it for to our communities this morning. International instability therefore affects trade routes, business confidence and the decisions of companies considering where to invest and where to grow. That is why Ireland's EU presidency matters. It comes at a time when global politics are uncertain.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to make a winding-up speech on the motion. I thank Members for engaging robustly in the debate, albeit it veered in many different directions. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Matthew O'Toole clearly outlined the significance of Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union from July 2026. It is indeed a significant responsibility, which comes at a serious moment in global affairs. As many Members said, we are living through a period of deep instability. The escalation of violence in the Middle East following the bombing of Iran has heightened global tensions and created real fears about a wider conflict. Energy markets are volatile. Supply chains are fragile. Investor confidence across many regions is cautious.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. It demonstrates how quickly things can change in the energy sector. Minister, given the escalation of violence in the Middle East and the 10% jump in oil prices this morning, and particularly in light of the fact that more than two thirds of our households rely on home heating oil, what progress has been made towards linking the UK emissions trading scheme (ETS) with the EU ETS ahead of Ireland's forthcoming EU presidency? How could that help to protect consumers from further price shocks, which, as we stand here today, seem inevitable?”
“We say that it is underfunded on the basis of need, yet, when money comes into Northern Ireland, the spending of it is never prioritised on that basis. It is never prioritised on the basis of need. If we demand that prioritisation from the British Government, we should demand it of those who sit around the Executive table as well.”
“Such a barrier could prevent people in my constituency and people in other deprived areas of Northern Ireland from participating in education. <BR /> <BR />That is why the Minister for the Economy must act with urgency. The sector requires clarity, stability and a sustainable funding model. Delays and short-term approaches only deepen existing pressures. Magee's growth shows what is possible. What is required now for Magee and for higher education more widely is funding certainty that matches progress. The demand is proven, the case is clear, and we need the Executive to resolve the situation. <BR /> <BR />I have heard so many Members in the Chamber today complain about the British Government's failure to fund Northern Ireland. We all agree that it has been underfunded.”
“The challenge is not unique to Magee; it reflects the wider pressures across the higher education sector. Institutions cannot continue to operate within cycles of uncertainty, and students cannot continue to shoulder the consequences of funding instability. We have already seen what can happen when the sector is not adequately supported. The proposed rise in tuition fees causes students and their families genuine concern. I know many students who really suffer as a result of the loans that they have taken out, and that suffering persists right up until they have to make decisions about buying a house later in life. It is therefore really important to get those things right. The SDLP opposed the proposal, because access to education should not be determined by financial pressures.”
“That uncertainty creates real and long-term planning difficulties.”
“That headcount figure is important to us in itself, but that growth tells us something important: demand exists, Magee is expanding and students want to study there. However, growth of that scale cannot be sustained without financial certainty, and that is why the Magee example is important to the debate. Funding remains the defining issue for Magee's future development: the task force update made that very clear. Expansion requires stable, predictable and long-term support. We have been told that the proposed multi-year Budget includes £46·1 million in match funding for the expanded teaching block at the school of medicine, but we still do not have agreement on the Budget.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of the Budget Bill as an SDLP representative for Foyle. The legislation authorises spending for the closing financial year but also allows us to address issues that have long-term consequences. One such issue is funding for the expansion of Magee campus in Derry and the sustainability of higher education more broadly. Magee is not simply a university campus; for the north-west, it represents opportunities, skills and economic growth, and it is central to regional balance and the city's ability to retain its young people. <BR /> <BR />There has been genuine progress at Magee, and that deserves recognition. There are now 6,505 students studying at Magee, which is exciting. We are on the cusp of making that university sustainable in a way that it should have been for many years.”
“The strategy promises affordability. Why does it not have any mechanism to include, manage or regulate fee increases? How can parents have confidence that it will not simply result in large amounts of public money being used to subsidise rising prices?”
“Thank you, Minister. I, too, look forward to that engagement. Although you have a subregional economic plan, including the development of local economic partnerships, those remain policy mechanisms rather than statutory obligations. Why do you believe that an approach that is based on discretion and short-term programmes is sufficient to change the structural imbalances that have persisted in Northern Ireland for decades?”
“Minister, I wish you a belated happy birthday and hope that you enjoyed your celebrations.”
“Where a person is born should not dictate the quality of their health or the length of their healthy life, yet the figures clearly show that geography continues to exert a powerful influence. I am therefore bringing a regional balance Bill to the Assembly so that we can implement legislation that ensures that tackling regional imbalance becomes a central consideration across government.”
“That is down from 58·2 years — almost 4·4 fewer years of healthy living. The changes are not marginal. They are significant and show a stark reduction in the number of years that people can expect to live in good health, and that really matters. It matters for how we plan our health service and for how we plan to support our older people, as it all costs money. <BR /> <BR />A decline of that nature cannot be viewed in isolation. Healthy life expectancy is shaped by wider determinants, including income, employment, housing, public services and access to opportunities. The outcomes reflect the cumulative effects of social and economic inequality. Regional imbalance is therefore not merely an economic issue; it is a health issue. It is about how people live, how well they live and the fairness of outcomes across our society.”
“Aspects of the data are genuinely encouraging. Areas such as Mid Ulster and Lisburn and Castlereagh continue to record comparatively strong outcomes. That deserves recognition, as it demonstrates that better health outcomes are achievable and that public money, economic opportunity and living conditions make a difference. The picture is far more troubling in other regions, however. The figures for Derry are deeply concerning. Boys born in Derry between 2022 and 2024 can expect just 54·9 years of healthy living, which represents a decline of almost three years when compared with boys born between 2019 and 2021, when the figure stood at 57·7 years. The trend is even more alarming for girls. Girls born in Derry between 2022 and 2024 can expect to live a healthy life for 54·2 years.”
“I rise to address the figures recently published by the Office for National Statistics that outline healthy life expectancy across Northern Ireland. The statistics tell us something profoundly important about the lives that people are able to live. They measure not longevity but the number of years that individuals can expect to live in good health. That is a far more meaningful indicator of well-being and quality of life.”
“They deserve the full, unvarnished truth, however horrible it is, about how both state and non-state actors operated. Anything less will perpetuate hurt, mistrust and injustice.”
“Let us be clear: violence was not inevitable — not at all — and many of us chose not to go down that route. Violence was a choice. Directing terrorism was a choice. The use of agents, collusion and unlawful action were choices. Those choices had consequences for innocent people whose lives were changed for ever. <BR /> <BR />Disclosure must be central to any credible legacy process. Security institutions must accept that, where collusion occurred, it, too, was a crime against humanity. It cannot be shielded by excessive secrecy or the misuse of national security provisions. Without genuine transparency, any new legacy mechanism will only struggle to gain the confidence of victims and the wider public. Victims and families have waited decades for truth. They deserve more than practical accounts or carefully managed narratives.”
“It diminished the rule of law, created the perception of a hierarchy of victims and undermined confidence that justice and human rights were being upheld. The joint framework at least creates a space for more credible pathways. It recognises that the consequences of the Troubles were never confined to Northern Ireland: lives were shattered across these islands. Communities everywhere carry the legacy of the violence. <BR /> <BR />I particularly welcome the ending of the immunity scheme. Victims have too often seen arrangements that appear to place perpetrators beyond the reach of justice. Time and again, victims were asked to accept compromise while their suffering remained unresolved. Moving away from immunity is, therefore, essential to rebuild trust.”
“We call on the Assembly, London, Dublin and all those with influence over legacy to recognise clearly that gender-based violence formed part of the lived experience of the conflict and its aftermath. <BR /> <BR />I turn to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill. Significant challenges remain if the legislation is to command confidence. It is welcome that we are now discussing a bilateral approach between the British and Irish Governments through the joint framework. That marks a necessary shift away from the unilateralism that characterised earlier efforts. The previous legacy legislation was deeply flawed. It was rejected by every party in Northern Ireland and by the overwhelming majority of victims' and survivors' groups.”
“The full story is not simply one of causes or communities; it is a story of profound harm. It is the story of women who were subjected to violence and intimidation; of abuse that went unreported because reporting was impossible; of individuals who wielded power without accountability; and of families who were forced to leave their home in order to seek nothing more than safety and normality, which were sometimes very hard to find. <BR /> <BR />Women in particular paid a heavy price. Many endured domestic abuse, sexual violence and coercion in circumstances where fear and silence were enforced. They would have been called traitors to their community and neighbours. They lived in fear. Too often, their suffering was overshadowed by other atrocities or was dismissed entirely, and that must be acknowledged with absolute honesty.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to today's motion and to place on record the SDLP's support for it. I also note that both SDLP MPs are co-signatories of the amendment to the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill that seeks to give legislative effect to what we are debating today. The SDLP further urges Members across the House to have their colleagues support the amendment challenging the limited definition of "serious physical or mental harm". That definition matters because it is drawn too narrowly. Victims whose suffering was real, lasting and devastating risk being excluded yet again. <BR /> <BR />At the heart of the motion lies an uncomfortable truth about our past. For too long, the narrative of the Troubles has often been framed in such a way as to soften or obscure the lived reality of the many victims.”
“Thank you, Minister. Can you explain what steps your Department will take to prevent vital community services from totally collapsing?”
“The Bill, although modest in scope, is a necessary and a welcome step towards modernising Northern Ireland's insolvency legislation. The amendment to clause 119 is necessary, and I am happy to support the Bill.”
“That requires a joined-up commitment to ensure that the north-west has a fully supported, properly resourced residential addiction treatment centre that is capable of meeting present and future needs. The people who seek help are not statistics but our neighbours, our friends, our sons and our daughters. They deserve more than recognition. They deserve action that matches the courage it takes for them to ask for help. <BR /> <BR />As we mark 50 years of extraordinary service, I extend my sincere thanks to Tommy and all the staff, volunteers and everyone who has sustained the vital work at Northlands. I also urge the Minister of Health to match that determination so that hope and recovery remain available to every family who need it in the decades ahead.”
“<BR /> <BR />In the city that I represent, it is difficult to find a family whose story has not in some way been touched by the care, professionalism and humanity that is offered there. For many, a second chance in life can be traced directly back to the support that they received in the Northlands centre. While anniversaries are rightly moments of celebration, they must also be moments of reflection. The demand for addiction services is rising, substances are evolving and the challenges facing families are becoming more complex and more urgent. <BR /> <BR />Those working on the front line are clear in their message: without additional capacity, need will outstrip provision. If we are serious about valuing recovery, we must be serious about investing in it.”
“I am proud to recognise an organisation that has stood beside generations of individuals and families through some of the most difficult moments in their lives. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Northlands centre in Derry. For half a century, it has carried a simple but life-changing message: recovery is possible, people matter and no one should face addiction alone. <BR /> <BR />What began in the 1970s as an education initiative has grown into something far greater. Northlands became a community of support and, ultimately, a regional treatment centre that has helped people from across the North. Its work has not only transformed lives but challenged the shame and stigma that so often surround addiction. It has replaced silence with understanding and brought hope to those who were in despair.”
“Thank you for taking an intervention. Taxi drivers in Derry tell us repeatedly that potholes are damaging not just their vehicles' tyres and suspension but their income. Does the Member agree that that is a practical, everyday consequence of underinvestment in our roads and infrastructure?”
“Minister, I am very disappointed that this has been paused. I listened carefully to Dr Cass yesterday as she was interviewed. It was very respectful and inclusive. She expressed her disappointment in the adults to the right and to the left, but also those in the centre who have been silent on the issue for having done a disservice to children. She said that the trial would be closely monitored, that it was necessary to get the scientific evidence and data, and that there was no evidence whatsoever that children would be in any danger in participating in the trial. That is from the expert and those leading the trial. What makes you wiser than her?”
“— recognised that no single intervention is sufficient on its own. Restrictions alone are not enough. <BR /> <BR />I urge Members to support our motion.”
“The problem will not be solved through legislation alone, or, indeed, banning, because it is a multi-level problem. However, we must listen to the evidence and make interventions at all levels. We in the SDLP do not think that there is one solution, and one solution only; we accept that we need to work on multiple levels. <BR /> <BR />The British Government's consultation reflects the growing recognition that stronger protections are needed and that the status quo cannot continue. The debate has rightly —”
“Teachers report increased distraction and anxiety; parents are struggling to set boundaries in an online world that never switches off; and mental health professionals warn that the pressures facing young people today are fundamentally different from those that were faced by previous generations. For far too long, we have hoped that the tech industry would regulate itself, but it has not done so. Other countries have recognised that doing nothing is no longer an option. Governments across the world are beginning to step in, because the cost of inaction is simply too high. <BR /> <BR />There are multiple levels to this complex subject. I accept and agree with all the contributions and with the angles from which Members made them.”
“Those risks are not abstract; they are real harms that parents see at home, that teachers see in classrooms and that mental health professionals see every day. We are dealing not with neutral platforms but with systems that are deliberately designed to be addictive. Many Members talked about that addiction in their contributions this afternoon. With algorithms that monetise attention, and business models that profit when young people stay online longer, those platforms do not just host content; they shape behaviour, expectations and the way in which young people see themselves and others. It is worth noting that many of the people who design and profit from such platforms do not allow their own children to use them. That should give us pause. <BR /> <BR />Across families, schools and communities, people are sounding the alarm.”
“For many parents and grandparents, that creates constant anxiety that we are playing catch-up while the damage is already being done. We would not put a child in a car without a seatbelt, but a report released today by CyberSafeKids in the Republic of Ireland states that 51% of children have no parental restrictions on their access to online content. That is a scary figure. Just 39% of eight- to 12-year-olds say that their parents can check, monitor and control what they do and see online. So, we do have a problem. <BR /> <BR />There is a growing and credible body of evidence that links excessive social media use to anxiety, depression, poor sleep, poor body image and attention problems in children and young people.”
“It is not all bad, however: there is some good in there. It influences how they measure success, judge their own worth and understand relationships. The fact that something is normal does not, however, mean that it is harmless. As a grandmother now, I thank my lucky stars that I did not have to contend with social media platforms as a mother. My children had Bebo on a computer that sat in the middle of my kitchen. We would look over at them, and they spoke only to their friends. That is going back a little bit, and I am deeply concerned about the type of world that our children and grandchildren are growing up in. <BR /> <BR />Technology has moved faster than our protections, and young people are too often left alone in digital spaces that were never designed for their mental well-being.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank all the Members who contributed to the debate. I honestly believe that, although we might use different words or place a different emphasis on things, we are all on the same page. A lot of the evidence on this issue is still evolving, but, at its heart, the motion is about simple responsibility: our responsibility, as legislators, to begin the conversation. This is not the end of the conversation; it will go on every day in our constituencies, schools and homes, as well as with those big tech companies and billionaires who create the platforms that damage our families and our people. Our responsibility is to protect children and keep them from harm. <BR /> <BR />Social media is part of everyday life for our young people. It shapes how they communicate, learn and see themselves.”
“The simple truth is that, if we were to build a new Ireland, we would be placed right back into the heart of the European Union. That is the only way in which the damage done by Brexit could ever be fully reversed. Yes, there are mitigations — the UK-EU customs union, the EU Commission office in Belfast and observer status for Northern Ireland in the European Parliament — but those are all too much for you. You cannot go there.”
“Small traders, exporters and family-run firms are being choked by bureaucracy, paperwork and delays. They are not abstract issues but sometimes are the difference between keeping the doors open and closing them for good. If we fail to address that, our high streets will continue to decline and communities will pay the price. That is why we support efforts to reduce trade frictions, including closer alignment between the UK and the EU and serious consideration for a customs union. You cannot contemplate that because you are so dug into your own trenches that you cannot see over the top. Those measures would make a real difference to businesses here. <BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the elephant in the room.”
“You have just made my point. We need to get delivering for our economy here on waste water, housing and healthcare, but you just want to talk about wedge issues. You are absolutely not at the races when it comes to growing and developing the economy of Northern Ireland. What we are missing is leadership. What we are really missing from your Benches is leadership. We are missing coordination and follow-through from the Executive. There is also no denying the damage that Brexit has done, and to sit and continue to deny it 10 years on is lacking leadership. It is lacking a backbone, and you have not got it or you would display it here, occasionally, in this Chamber. <BR /> <BR />As I have said many times in the Chamber, businesses in Derry are genuinely struggling.”
“I will come back to you. <BR /> <BR />Across civic society, the business community and our wider stakeholders, there is no shortage of ambition and willingness to help to build a stronger and fairer economy.”
“Too often, Ministers appear more focused on blaming one another than just getting on with delivering for the rest of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />It does not have to be that way.”
“It should be one of our strongest selling points, but the reality is we are failing to make the most of it, and that is the truth. <BR /> <BR />Businesses have told us repeatedly that the Executive are not doing enough to clearly articulate the benefits of dual market access or to actively promote Northern Ireland as a place to invest in. That exposes a deeper problem. How can expect investors to come here when our ability to deliver as a government is so poor? We still do not have a published investment strategy. We still do not have a genuinely plan-led approach to our electricity grid. Our waste water infrastructure remains broken, preventing housing regeneration and economic growth. We continue to tolerate deep economic imbalance, with regions such as the north-west consistently missing out.”
“Under the Trump Administration in the United States, predictability has given way to volatility, and multilateralism has been replaced by unilateral decision-making. As a result, countries and investors are now reassessing risk. They are diversifying their investments and looking for stability, reliability and access to markets. I believe that, done properly, that shift presents an opportunity, particularly for smaller regions that have, too often, been left behind. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland should be firmly positioned in that context. As investors look again at where they place their money, we should be moving at speed to attract them here. Our dual market access to the UK and the EU single market is a genuinely unique proposition. Very few places anywhere in the world can offer that.”
“My God. It feels like Groundhog Day when it comes to debates about Europe in this place. Almost every month, the Assembly returns to similar motions and familiar arguments. We could all go and vote before anybody says a word, because we all know what way it will go. People outside the Chamber are absolutely sick, sore and tired of this tit-for-tat politics. It is pure nonsense. They want less repetition and more delivery. That having been said, the motion reflects a number of important truths, and it is right that we acknowledge them. <BR /> <BR />We are living through a period of significant global change. The rules-based order that once underpinned international trade and cooperation has, indeed, been badly weakened.”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. You previously described the extension of the Wild Atlantic Way into the North as a priority, yet there was no mention of it in your statement. What is causing the delay? What leadership and action have you taken to resolve it? Was it raised at the meeting?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. It is light on content and on politics. As you state, InterTradeIreland is exceeding its target with over 55,000 businesses benefiting, but there is no analysis of why. We get data on outcomes, but we do not know the impact. It is a meaningless statement insofar as we do not know the value added to the economy. We do not know how many jobs have been created. We do not know the regional or jurisdictional distribution of such investments and benefits. The valued added and data are so important. These statements keep on coming to the House —”
“Thank you, Minister. Reverting to the property valuations of 2023 is not a solution: they, too, were unfair. They were particularly unfair for our city centres and the retail sector. The NAV system is antiquated, is not fit for purpose and needs a complete overhaul. Can you address that? It is not fair, it is not transparent and the methodology is so out of date that it is not fit for purpose any more.”
“This is not only a change that is happening to us; it is a change that we must be ready to meet.”