Cara Hunter
East Londonderry · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />At Committee, we heard such compelling evidence from young people about why girls should have the choice of wearing trousers in school. Outside of the young people themselves, the conversations that we had with Menstruation Matters, particularly on the dignity piece about young girls and periods, really resonated with me.”
“I am happy to be here. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I fear that I will repeat a number of points that have been made this evening. As a relatively young woman — I am 30 now — I am absolutely baffled that we have to debate this issue. It is truly astonishing. If I did not have notes in front of me, I would have no words to say.”
“That is why it is so important to echo today that, despite the simplicity of this change, it will be so meaningful in protecting young girls and their dignity in a number of ways. We also often hear directly from young women that they simply want to be comfortable.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. Ultimately, the Department of Education and the Minister will tell our young people, "Aspire to be the best that you can be. Get out into the world. You can do and be anything — but you cannot wear trousers". That is lunacy. It is lunacy and hypocrisy of the highest order.”
“<BR /> <BR />I find it extraordinary and depressing that this did not pass previously and that we have had to regroup. As the Chair of the Education Committee rightly said, this could be done at the stroke of a pen. It is nonsensical that we have to do it this way.”
“I thank the Member for his point, but, respectfully, I am not here to talk about other jurisdictions; I am here to talk about the rights of my constituents in East Derry and people right across the North.”
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“I thank the Minister for his statement. This is a step in the right direction, but, in the past five years, over 2,040 Housing Executive homes have been sold off via the right-to-buy scheme. I welcome the fact that there will be 300 new homes in the initial development that was announced today, but what is the Minister's assessment of the right-to-buy scheme, its impact on homelessness and the lack of available housing for people who struggle to afford rent in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. At that time, civil servants needed to understand where the political sway was. The recall motion would have provided us with a solid and open opportunity to communicate our needs, fears and concerns about Lough Neagh. Just days previously, Alliance Party members on Belfast City Council supported a motion alongside the SDLP and the Greens. That is why it was so confusing. However, Minister, I wish you the best of luck, and I really hope that Members across the House will vote for the motion.”
“It is high time that we took matters into our own hands, took seriously our responsibility to restore nature and its sacred importance and acted swiftly to fulfil what the SDLP has consistently called for and finally establish an independent environmental watchdog. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I respect that you have been in this position for a few weeks. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, you will use your new position to find an answer and a resolution. That is why it was so deeply regrettable that, when we had a recall motion, the Alliance Party did not sign it. In your winding-up speech, I would like to hear a little more about why that was.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. We have a moral and professional duty to protect the environment for not only ourselves and our generation but for our children and their children. Today is an opportunity to have that discussion about what we can do and what steps we can take. <BR /> <BR />With only a pitiful 14% of our rivers and lakes having received a "Good" ecological status in 2021, our rivers and lakes remain blighted by run-off from agriculture, animal slurry, chemical fertilisers and human sewage. While our environment continues to suffer, our wildlife diminishes in its numbers and quality, and the people dependent on the lake for their work continue to be shafted. The Earl of Shaftesbury, much like an absentee landlord of the 19th century, continues to collect royalties.”
“Regrettably, we have not been doing that. With regard to the largest wetlands on these islands, the Assembly has been found derelict in its duty.”
“If they go into the water and get sick, it is essentially on you." When they reached out at that time, when the Assembly was down, there was no guidance whatever from Departments and no financial support. As a result, sadly, those two family-owned businesses collapsed and closed. It is important that we raise that today to show not only the environmental and ecological crisis that we face but the real-life negative financial impact that the algae and the ruining of the lake have created for businesses around the River Bann as well in my constituency. <BR /> <BR />It is high time that the Chamber took action to protect Lough Neagh, to grapple with challenging decisions that must be made to truly prioritise our environment and to safeguard the source of 40% of our drinking water for generations to come.”
“What should be recognised as a shared ecological jewel, a lake cherished and celebrated, is now devastated and has, instead, been neglected by the House, its purity sullied by the actions of industry, and those who depended on it for environmental integrity are now jobless and bereft. <BR /> <BR />I want to mention two fantastic businesses in my constituency. Edge Watersports and the Cranagh Activity Centre were based on the River Bann. That fantastic centre provided the opportunity for so many to engage in water sports. It had disability access and was a thriving local family business. It started in 1996. and its owners — two wonderful people — hoped to pass it down to their children. Sadly, as a direct result of the presence of the algae, they were told, "People cannot go into the water.”
“At the heart of Ulster lies Lough Neagh, the banks of which grace five counties. With Ireland's largest lake come a rich mythological, stunning natural beauty, a body of water that once supported a vibrant ecosystem and a legacy of fishing and work life that has tied generations of families together. Today, however, much of Lough Neagh sits covered in algae, polluted and stagnant, similar to and symbolic of the stagnation that has characterised the failings of this Chamber for far too long. What should be a rich, thriving, ecological haven at the heart of this place, a lough capable of supporting communities, livelihoods and a diverse and flourishing array of marine and bird life is, instead, a murky pool with dwindling fish stocks, 100,000 fewer wintering birds and water so polluted that pet dogs have, sadly, died as a result.”
“We are the only part of the UK where women's aid groups do not receive guaranteed state funding. Does the junior Minister believe that that is acceptable, given the incredible work that they do to support vulnerable women and girls in our society?”
“It is such a lucrative sector, but it is undoubtedly negatively impacting on my constituents. I have seen a trend of Housing Executive houses being bought and, a year or two down the line, turned into Airbnbs. Local families then knock on my office door and ask, "What do we do? I have no access to a house". That is why I am here today to raise this with you, Minister. I thank all who are in the House for being here.”
“If we want to support families and, ultimately, give children the best go at life by supporting them in their early years, the best way for them to have a happy life is to have a happy and stable home. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to bring this matter to the House today. I know — I say this sincerely — that Members across the House genuinely care about the issue and work hard within their parties and with councillors and other reps to house constituents. For me, it is not a party political issue but about ensuring that we can provide the best standard of life, opportunity and success for our constituents to live life and have a happy, stable home. Minister, in your response, I would welcome your touching on the strategies, targets and conversations that you are exploring, particularly on second-home ownership and Airbnbs.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the fact that Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has researched this issue as part of local area planning, and I previously touched on the statistics for Portrush. Its figure for second homes is estimated at between 16% and 24%. The figure for Portstewart is between 15% and 23%. Minister, that is why I put this on your radar today. It is about the lack of sustainability of housing in the area. People feel hopeless. I have spoken with mothers and fathers who said, "I know that this will not go the way that I want. I will be waiting for up to five or 10 years". We talk a lot in the House about mental health, supporting families and early years.”
“In the last Assembly election, I canvassed a street that I grew up in — it is a street of about 10 or 12 houses — and I thought, "This is great, I will knock on the door of the house that I grew up in." However, nobody lived there, because it was a second home. Eventually, I knocked on a door and a lady answered. I asked, "Is there a football match today? What is going on? Why is it so empty?". She said, "There are three families in the street, and the rest of the houses are second homes". I said, "This is such a transformation from when I was a child, about 20 years ago". The cultural and community changes in Portrush are interesting points to talk about. Other Members will have canvassed other areas, such as Portballintrae, where up to half of the properties are second homes.”
“I live there, I love it there and I grew up there, and I can see why people want to live there. When we talk about second-home ownership and, of course, the lucrative short-term lets, for example, Airbnbs, we see that they are really impacting on young families' ability to access a house there for the children to grow up in. It is important to raise that today. Whilst I in no way seek to demonise second-home ownership, I want to place it on your radar, Minister. There is a conversation to be had about perhaps moderating the number of houses that are being bought to be second homes. I will give an example.”
“Young professionals, young families and people who have just got married or want to start a family are really struggling. Ultimately, I believe that the lack of available housing is eliminating a sense of community in those areas, but I will come to that further down the line. <BR /> <BR />As I mentioned in previous speeches in the House, I have met estate agents over the past few months who said that they have never seen the situation as bad or as stark as it is now, with so few houses available in the north coast area. That is a really interesting point to raise today. When talking about housing and housing stress in East Derry and the wider north coast area, we need to address our unique position of struggling with housing and second-home ownership. Portrush is a very attractive place.”
“They touched on the fact that they cannot bring friends over because they live in a family member's living room, as opposed to having their own bedroom and their own home. Those are just some of the lived experiences that I wanted to share today. <BR /> <BR />The debate covers the constituency, including the north coast area, so we are talking about places like Portrush, Portstewart and the wider Coleraine area. We are continuing to see the loss of private rentals for families who desperately need them, and there really are no homes available. That has contributed, essentially, to a situation in which we have fewer houses available, the market is more competitive, the rent prices are going up and when houses are for sale, people cannot afford them.”
“Minister, I am aware that you have been in position for only a couple of months, but housing here is a historical problem. It has been underfunded for generations, arguably. I really welcome the fact that we are here today to talk about it further. <BR /> <BR />We must immediately build and expand social housing in our communities and throughout East Derry. We have seen each and every day the unbelievable challenges of people being made homeless, with mere weeks to find a home, but they rarely do. That forces families to move into overcrowded houses, and they suffer immensely. Their mental health suffers as well due to housing pressures. Housing stress really does ruin lives. I spoke recently with children who are experiencing housing stress.”
“That shows the level of pressure that exists and the solutions that people have been forced into in order to get a fit-for-purpose, disability access-approved home. <BR /> <BR />That is just one of many stories. All of us across the House have heard over the past number of years about the pressures on our housing system. Over 46,000 people in the North are awaiting a home. I am genuinely worried for the health and well-being of my constituents who are experiencing the pressures that housing stress can bring. <BR /> <BR />Having this conversation today is an opportunity to hear directly from you and your Department, Minister, and to talk a little bit more about strategies for housing and the solutions that are being proposed in order to adequately solve the ongoing housing crisis.”
“Whether it is young, vulnerable single men, looked-after children leaving care and looking for housing for the first time, people who live life with a physical or learning disability or mothers and fathers who have been left homeless with nowhere to go, it is creating significant pressure. I really welcome the chance to debate and talk about it further today. <BR /> <BR />I will touch on the lived experience of one of my constituents. Years ago, I met a lovely lady in my constituency who uses a wheelchair due to a medical diagnosis. She could not gain access to a house that was fit for purpose, and it was taking years to get a suitable home for her. As a direct result, she has been living in a caravan in the East Derry constituency.”
“I thank all my constituency colleagues and the Minister, of course, for being here today. I submitted the topic for the Adjournment debate in good faith, Minister, to work with you and your Department, as well as alongside constituency and other party political representatives. Today, we have the chance to highlight the undeniable and unbelievable need for housing in the constituency of East Derry or East Londonderry — whatever you want to call it. Minister, in my past few years as an elected rep — it is coming up to five years now — housing has continued to be the number-one issue that I see.”
“What in God's name is divisive in asking the House to condemn war crimes, the starvation of innocent children and the bombing of hospitals, where people are injured and cannot get up out of bed to flee? I ask every elected representative in the House to truly dig down deep, ask their conscience, take a long, hard look in the mirror and support the motion. If you do not, I am really concerned about your morals, frankly.”
“Recently, a UN representative on human rights said that Israel had violated at least three of the five acts listed under the UN genocide convention. So regular are such atrocities that the acronym WCNSF — wounded child, no surviving family — has become a medical first, unique to Gaza. Surely that compels all those with a voice to condemn the genocidal campaign by Netanyahu and his supporters. Whilst we all share the pain at the atrocities of 7 October and urge the immediate return of the hostages, it is pressing today that we in the House call for a total ceasefire and immediate recognition of the state of Palestine and plead with the international community to renew all efforts to achieve lasting peace and a two-state solution.”
“Just last week, a Bill was passed to end the full operations of Al Jazeera in Israel. The philosopher and holocaust survivor Hannah Arendt once said that, if you cannot say something, you are living in a tyranny. For Al Jazeera, nothing at all can now be said inside the state of Israel. The concerted and systematic targeting of the Middle East's most prominent journalistic organisation is indicative of Israel's increasingly undemocratic tendencies and highly revealing of a state that has scant regard for the rights, dignity and political aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
“The building housed the Al Jazeera and the Associated Press offices. Little more than a year later, the IDF murdered the Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in cold blood, a crime for which no one has ever been held accountable.”
“One of the worst things that I have seen is the complete denial of aid — fuel, food and water — to the civilian population, which is struggling to survive and has nowhere to turn. Members, when future generations look back at this moment and our debate on this motion, they will surely wonder why so many of us were so slow to act when newborn babies and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers were being denied basic meals. It is absolutely unthinkable. <BR /> <BR />As 'The Washington Post' tag line states, "Democracy Dies in Darkness". Whilst the reputation of Israeli democracy is evermore in tatters, surely this week, with the attack on Rafah, it is at a new low. On 15 May 2021, the IDF levelled the al-Jalaa building in Gaza, toppling its 11 floors with just half an hour's notice.”
“I want to thank the vast number of my constituents who have been in touch on this issue, some of whom have hosted and held rallies and have spoken so passionately about it. <BR /> <BR />Since October last year, Israel's brutal offensive has seen the slaughter of at least 34,735 Palestinians, wounded at least an additional 72,889 people and devastated the lives of countless thousands more. For people in this part of the world, the memory of conflict, albeit on a far smaller scale, still looms large. We would do well to consider the pain and trauma that will, undoubtedly, harm the people of Gaza for generations to come. Numbed and appalled, in this part of the world we have watched in sheer disbelief at the terror of bombing civilians and the wholesale destruction of schools, hospitals and places of worship.”
“I welcome that we have the opportunity today to talk about this incredibly important issue. I will struggle immensely to fit in my thoughts and feelings in articulating the horror and the level of atrocities that have been carried out over the past few months in Palestine, but I will certainly do my best. <BR /> <BR />Many here today, and outside the Chamber, will question why Assembly time has been devoted to international affairs when there are other pressing local matters. However, the scale and relentless nature of the war crimes that are being perpetrated by the Israeli Government represent such a horrific disregard for human life that we in this Chamber, I feel, are morally obliged to raise them, to ask for an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and to join in the international calls for an immediate ceasefire.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I recognise that our non-teaching staff — classroom assistants — are the backbone of all our schools, but particularly in meeting the medical needs of pupils in our special schools. Does the Minister agree that the lack of implementation of this review could actually worsen the staffing crisis in our special schools? Will he and the Finance Minister commit to keeping the House updated on the issue?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I warmly welcome today's announcement of investment that will support our schools, staff and teachers. Thank you for the meeting this morning about Rossmar School in Limavady. <BR /> <BR />Minister, you stated that there are 10 special schools in your Department's school enhancement programme and that those projects will be prioritised for delivery. Can I have a little more detail on the 10 schools that have been chosen, the process and how those decisions were made?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. On Mr Butler's point, does she agree that the growth of technology, the closure of banks and post offices and the move to two-step authentication can often make older people — the elderly community — feel isolated, due to not knowing how to use the technology and not seeing the people whom they would have seen every day because those spaces no longer exist?”
“I will speak briefly. I wholeheartedly welcome this. I hope that the trial is successful. I note the Member's comment about the fact that people are at court all day. Hopefully, the presence of such products will go some way towards tackling feelings of indignity. It is really positive that they will be available across the named agencies and organisations. Again, I thank Pat Catney for the Period Products Act.”
“Minister, on the point about the joint action plan with the Minister of Education, let me say that I recently met a speaker for schools on the lack of standardised work experience. Have you had conversations with the Education Minister about the access to work experience and the need to ensure that children get every opportunity possible?”
“Currently, the lack of data on animal cruelty incidents is unbelievable. There are challenges with tracking, and the level of transparency when a report is made is truly shocking. <BR /> <BR />The rising costs of vets' bills are crippling. When they come across injured animals, charities cannot afford to help each and every one of them. We need to think seriously about how we prioritise the health and well-being of vulnerable animals here. They look to us to protect them. I will be demanding action from the Minister of Agriculture. The current legislation is as weak as water. It is time for change.”
“They have gone above and beyond to protect animals where local councils have, I believe, undeniably failed. There is an unbelievably obvious issue here: when you come across an abused animal after 5.00 pm or at the weekend, there is absolutely nobody available and no number to call. That issue needs to be urgently addressed. It is not a failing system but a failed system, and we must act. There is also a huge lack of clarity on how much power and training local councils and the PSNI have in the handling of animals. <BR /> <BR />In the North, we urgently require an animal welfare strategy. Otherwise, how will we know which direction meets the needs of the community and what services we require? An understanding of the financial resources available is crucial. We need to know how to put services into place.”
“When we look at sentencing, we see that, when the perpetrators are caught and brought to court, they receive painfully lenient sentences. In one case, for example, a man held responsible for what was defined as a barbaric injury towards a dog got just nine months. Nine months. Knowing that, we must ask this: where is the deterrent for cruelty towards animals? We need to relook at the lack of lengthy sentences here for such barbaric actions. Abuse towards animals is widely recognised as a precursor for abuse towards human beings, and it is important to acknowledge that here today. <BR /> <BR />I recently had meetings with two animal charities in my consistency: the Causeway Coast Dog Rescue and Dog Leap in Limavady, both of which are led by incredible ladies who work so passionately on this issue.”
“I wish to raise the lack of appropriate animal welfare in Northern Ireland. In the past three years, in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, we have seen over 1,000 incidents of animal cruelty. Across Northern Ireland, animal welfare is not regarded as a priority. The current process for reporting such cruelty is not only not fit for purpose but absolutely appalling. There is a significant lack of investment in protecting our animals here, and the current process has not worked and does not work. <BR /> <BR />Over the past few months, we have seen dogs drowned in Tyrone and dogs buried in Co Derry. We clearly have a profound issue with the treatment of animals here. Not only that, but there is a lack of prosecutions for evil perpetrators who maliciously carry out horrific acts towards innocent animals.”
“I hope that the Executive can support that.”
“It starts with recognising that substance abuse is not simply a matter of choice but often a symptom of a deeper societal problem. The substance use strategy and harm reduction models must urgently be implemented. I have found, in four years of being an MLA, that people who need access to mental health support have a real struggle. For example, if you have drink or drugs in your system and you present to A&E to look for help, you do not get it; you are pushed away. We need to look at how we can best support vulnerable people when they are at their lowest. <BR /> <BR />We will support the amendment and the motion. I thank the Health Minister for being here; I know that he cares passionately about the issue. I echo the thanks to our leader, Colum Eastwood, for working with the British Government on the Northlands centre.”
“It is a vicious cycle that is perpetuated by the legacy of our troubled history. It is important to note — we are well aware of this — the impact that the Troubles have had on people of all backgrounds and beliefs across the North. There is an undeniable link with that: people use alcohol and drugs to cope with what has happened in their life, perhaps in their childhood; they have children who witness alcoholism in the home and see parents who struggle to cope with trauma; and that passes through the generations. I am delighted that we are having the conversation today. <BR /> <BR />Amidst the darkness, there is hope. We have the power to break that cycle, to offer support and compassion to those in need and to address the root causes of addiction and mental illness. That is why we support the amendment and the motion.”
“The numbers that I have just mentioned only scratch the surface. They fail to capture what is a complex web of pain and suffering that lies beneath those who struggle with addiction. Behind each death lies a story of despair that is often rooted in intergenerational trauma. Many use opioids, for example, to numb psychological and physical pain. For many, drugs and alcohol offer temporary escape from a cycle of pain, but, tragically, that often leads to further anguish, death and destruction. The link between substance abuse and mental health is irrefutable, and those who struggle with trauma and depression too often turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, only to find themselves further trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction. As the grip of addiction tightens, the risk of suicide, sadly, looms ever larger.”
“It is so positive to see the cross-party support for those kinds of initiatives and to hear colleagues talking about the societal issues that impact on every one of us and our families at some point in our life.”
“Let us start with some awful statistics. In 2022, there were 154 drug-related deaths. While that was a decrease from the previous year, it is so important to recognise that drug-related deaths have been on a steady rise since 2012, with a staggering 98% increase. Over two-thirds of those deaths were classified as drug misuse deaths, affecting predominately men and with the 25-44 age group bearing the brunt of the crisis. There is a real emphasis on awareness that that demographic — that age group — is struggling so significantly. We need to ensure that we are creating safe spaces for young men and fellas to open up and talk about mental health. Mrs Dodds touched on dual diagnosis. I celebrate the work of the MLAs, including my colleague Mark Durkan, on that APG.”
“For years, we have seen the undeniable link between drug use, alcoholism, mental ill health, suicide and, of course, in the North, intergenerational trauma. Those issues have defined the lives, families and even childhoods of so many of us. At the Education Committee, I raised the real need for us, as MLAs and Committee members, to recognise how addiction impacts on the entire home and the children within it. We need to recognise the impact that such behaviour can have on children at school and their achievements. It can often act as an adverse childhood experience. It can shape their later life and push them into having an addiction as well. <BR /> <BR />Behind the stark statistics of addiction and drug deaths lie real humans and real human stories, each one a tragedy. Each one has a family, and each one is a desperate call for action.”
“First, I thank the Members who tabled this really important motion. I thank Órlaithí for the large amount of work that she has done on this. I know that she cares passionately about the issue, and I thank her for tabling today's motion. <BR /> <BR />I echo the sentiment today in offering my condolences to families that have lost someone due to drugs or alcohol. My constituency colleague Mr Robinson touched so eloquently on the complexities of the lives that those people live and on the fact that, in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, we have a real drug problem and that a lot of people need to know that support is out there. It is so difficult for the family network, but help is out there, so please seek it. <BR /> <BR />I welcome today's debate on this pressing issue, which has been silently harming our communities.”
“We must take away the taboo and recognise that teaching consent is a child safeguarding tool. Whether it is a child experiencing sexual abuse as a minor or a teenager experiencing coercive control in a teenage relationship, the only way for young people to know their rights and protect their bodies is through age-appropriate RSE. <BR /> <BR />In the House, we speak strongly on a cross-party basis about how we all play a role in tackling violence against women and girls. I therefore urge Members to see the undeniable link of age-appropriate RSE education in teaching consent and to recognise the role that it will undeniably play in tackling violence against women and girls in our society.”
“<BR /> <BR />One of the fundamental arguments against RSE in schools is that of letting children be children. I agree: let us let children be children. Let us protect them by educating them that they have a right to say no; to know what abuse looks and sounds like inside and outside the home; and to be able to identify what an inappropriate touch looks like and whom to talk to if it happens. Let us focus on protecting our children from harm online as well. If children are raised in homes where there is domestic violence and sexual abuse, that is their normal. We need early intervention to teach them that that is not normal and where they can find support. Abuse thrives in silence: if we talk about the issues, it has nowhere to hide. <BR /> <BR />Parents should be kept informed and aware of the issues and of what their children are taught.”
“It can be about isolating a person from their family and friends; denying them freedom and autonomy; gaslighting them; limiting access to their finance; limiting their aspirations; turning their children against them; controlling the decisions that they make about their body; making jealous accusations; regulating them and their life; and threatening their family or pets. A teenager aged 13, 14, 15 or 16 does not have the understanding or the lived experience to recognise those things as abuse. That is just one of the many reasons why RSE is so crucial to a child's well-being and, ultimately, to preventing harm and abuse. The amendment and that type of education are not about sexualising children; they are fundamentally about protecting them.”
“That education, coming at a university level, comes a little too late for so many. It needs to happen at secondary schools. An important study about Northern Ireland campuses that was released in previous years showed that one in five people had experienced sexual harassment in their first week at university. While we are talking about RSE in our secondary education, it is important to note the role that our universities can and should play. <BR /> <BR />An important aspect of our amendment is on coercive control. What does it look like?”
“I find it fantastic that our young people are speaking up on the issue and telling the people who create the curriculum that it is not fit for purpose, does not help them to identify abuse or coercive control in their relationships and does not educate them on whom to talk to about abuse, if that is what they are experiencing. What does that mean? It means that a lack of education leaves a multitude of generations of young people who have gone without. <BR /> <BR />Last year, I met the Feminist and Equality Society in Queen's, whose members talked about the important role that even our university campuses can play in ensuring that young students receive consent education. By the time that someone enters university, the likelihood is that they have already had a sexual experience.”
“The Secondary Students' Union of Northern Ireland (SSUNI) is a powerful team of young people who are using their voices to talk about all aspects of their academic lives. They are fantastic. As I have mentioned a number of times at the Education Committee, they have a document called 'Let Us Learn', which they launched at Queen's last year. It touches on the evident and undeniable inadequacy of current relationship education and on some of the hypothetical ways in which we could weave RSE into the current curriculum, which they feel to be necessary. It is really important that young people have a say in shaping their curriculum, and we should listen to them wherever possible. <BR /> <BR />RSE is essentially about teaching our young people that no means no but also that it is OK to say no when they feel uncomfortable.”