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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“Many victims who had been through that experience noted the level of distress that they had experienced. One of them said:”
“I see that time and time again in my constituency office when supporting victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />To quote further:”
“I am sure that everyone in the Chamber agrees that the justice system can, and must, be better administered. <BR /> <BR />This morning, when we remembered Katie Simpson, whose life was tragically taken too soon at the hands of her partner, the Minister rightly expressed a desire for protocols to reflect trauma-informed and gender-sensitive practices. She noted that there is a clear need to develop the mandatory use of trauma-informed, victim-centred investigative models. I really welcome her comments. It really is time for victims of coercive control to be adequately supported in our courts. <BR /> <BR />As is stated in the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime's report 'Totally Invisible' from just last December:”
“Regrettably, however, our justice system too often does not help victims heal. Rather, it reopens old wounds and creates new ones. Unfortunately, the history of justice in the North means that many people do not trust it. Trust has not been inherent, and justice has been delayed and, sadly, too often denied. Many Members have spoken today about the institutional re-traumatisation caused by a court system that is not fit for purpose and that must be modernised. Although we cannot expect to rid the justice system of all its flaws, we can, and must, do better. It is worth thinking about the words of Sandra Day O'Connor, the late US Supreme Court justice, who said that a system of justice is never perfect but only as good as the people who administer it.”
“<BR /> <BR />A number of comments that have been made here today really resonate with me. There may not be any cuts, bruises or scars, but the impact, harm and helplessness that those victims feel is like nothing that I have ever encountered. Learning about what happened to that woman was one of the most shocking moments that I have had with a constituent. I have also learnt about the weaponisation of children by perpetrators and abusers who use coercive control. That is heartbreaking. In addition, I have learnt about the use of trackers and about perpetrators stalking people outside their home and place of work. <BR /> <BR />The justice system should be a place of refuge for victims in Northern Ireland. Trust should be inherent, and, at its best, justice should be able to help victims heal.”
“I thank the Members to my left for tabling what is a really important motion. It has been really interesting to hear from different MLAs, many of whom have been in the job a lot longer than me. There are times in this job when I think that I have seen it all. A couple of months ago, I was with a victim of coercive control whose ex-partner was extremely intimidating in a number of ways. In one of the most horrific examples of intimidation that I have ever heard, he impersonated her by creating a profile with her likeness and photos and began to catfish men whom they both knew by offering them sex. That is a level of harm that I did not think was even possible. It speaks to the wider issue of how technology is being weaponised by abusers to exert coercive control.”
“Many parents whom I speak with in my constituency say that they are burnt out, overwhelmed, exhausted and injured many days of the week. Many of them say that they feel that they are being failed. Do you think that they are being failed, Minister?”
“I, too, add my love and support to Katie's family, who have been so badly failed. I greatly admire their advocacy, bravery and resilience. <BR /> <BR />Right now, Minister, there are families across Northern Ireland in the same horrific predicament: the murder of a loved one staged as a suicide. How many families are having the death of loved ones re-examined?”
“I put on record a "Well done" to Cian and Jordan, who have turned something that is deeply personal into something very powerful. Conditions like frontotemporal dementia affect the whole family. It is life-altering and life-ruining. Thanks to Cian and Jordan, citizens and politicians like us across these islands have learnt about frontotemporal dementia: the signs, the symptoms, the importance of fundraising and, of course, the urgent need to find a cure. Today, the Assembly says, "Well done and thank you so much for teaching us more about the diagnosis".”
“That is hard to comprehend, which brings me to the point that I am raising in the Assembly. Right now, there are almost 1 million people across these islands who live with dementia, and that number is only going one way — sadly, upwards — which is why those young men have taken it on themselves to raise awareness and funds for research to end this horrific condition. They have raised almost £150,000, which is just incredible. <BR /> <BR />This form of dementia is rare, under-researched and often misunderstood. The brothers said, on finding out their diagnosis, that they have 10 to 15 years, and then they will be stripped of everything. That is absolutely devastating, given that they are so young; they know what the future looks like and what lies ahead. <BR /> <BR />I feel strongly that this has to change.”
“I wish to say a few words about two young men who make us stop, think and put everything into perspective. Jordan and Cian Adams, two young brothers, also known as the "FTD brothers", are running 32 marathons in 32 days across Ireland — last week, they ran through my constituency — to raise money for frontotemporal dementia, the illness that took their mother, Geraldine, at the age of 52. Jordan Adams also recently finished the London marathon with a fridge weighing 25 kg on his back, which is just remarkable. <BR /> <BR />Despite being young men in their late 20s and early 30s, sadly, they found out the devastating news that they also carry the gene that means that, having lost 12 relatives, they, too, are almost certain to develop this form of dementia.”
“Thank you, Minister. Teachers with whom I have spoken recently also said that they feel weighed down and stressed by the number of upcoming changes in education, such as TransformED, SEN reform and many more. This week, some schools are closed to facilitate that training, which leaves parents having to find childcare. Last week, in a letter, the Children's Law Centre and many others voiced their concern about the pace with which those changes are taking place. Minister, are you comfortable and, most importantly, confident given the level of disruption that is ongoing in our education system?”
“Our teachers across the North are in classrooms that are falling apart. When you speak to teachers and school leaders in the north-west in particular, you hear that there is so much mould in the classrooms, which have been there since the 1970s — there are also challenges in west Belfast — and that is not fair. Our teachers and school leaders show up every day wanting to share their learning and educate our young people, but they are in facilities that are not appropriate and that desperately need investment. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP will support the Bill at Second Stage and welcome it as an opportunity to talk about the ongoing challenges in the Irish-medium sector. Thank you very much, Pat, for introducing it.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Minister has stated clearly his aims to reduce educational inequality, to advance achievement and to support teachers across the North. We say today that the Irish-medium sector must not be forgotten, that its particular needs must be recognised and that the Assembly must lay down a framework that will finally address its concerns. <BR /> <BR />Parents, teachers and pupils in the Irish-medium sector across the North are listening to the debate today, expecting to be treated and supported in the same way as they would be in other sectors. By advancing the Bill, we will go one step further towards addressing their needs. It is important that we do so without delay. <BR /> <BR />In closing, I will be frank in looking at the wider neglect of the Irish-medium sector.”
“They do so while delivering a first-class education, disproportionately often to children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. There are more children in receipt of free school meals in Irish-medium schools than in English language schools. <BR /> <BR />It is perhaps less well known that children in Irish-medium schools are disproportionately likely to have special educational needs. Despite that, they lack the specialised language support that they so desperately need. Fundamentally, that is not a stand-alone education issue but an equality issue. <BR /> <BR />I also note that many talented Irish-speaking teachers often go over the border to the South, because they are better paid there, and who can blame them? Here, it is time to look at the long term to ensure continuity of Irish-medium education.”
“I welcome the fact that, right now, we see children across the North learning the language in English-speaking classrooms. I wish that we had had that when I was at school; I would have absolutely loved it. <BR /> <BR />I will make a broader point, however. Now is the time to comprehensively deal with the real workforce challenges in the sector. Across the Irish-medium sector, staff whom I have spoken to — teachers and classroom assistants — feel frustrated and overlooked. Today's conversation is so welcome because it is about considering the investment that they will need in order to flourish. <BR /> <BR />As is well known, a disproportionate number of our Irish-medium staff teach in buildings that have long seen better days and mobile classrooms that are long past their sell-by date.”
“Its workers have a love of the language, and they bring that energy, love and effort to the classroom every day. They have a passion for our young people and a true commitment to revitalising the language in the classroom and on this island. <BR /> <BR />Whilst I recognise that many in the Department of Education equally cherish the language and work hard to support the sector, we feel strongly that that is not adequate and that more must be done to invest in our workforce and ensure that it is well supported. The Irish language has the same rights as the English language and must be treated accordingly. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I genuinely welcome your work on the Irish language. You committed funding to the Scoil Spreagtha scheme after meeting me and my colleague Patsy McGlone.”
“So many of the staff there are on the front line, keeping the language alive and allowing it to grow and flourish every day. As someone who did not grow up speaking Irish, I find it really inspiring and encouraging to see how such schools use the language every day, which they do with our young people in such a fun and engaging way. <BR /> <BR />The workforce does that because of its incredible grá”
“<BR /> <BR />As has been highlighted by CnaG, the Department has failed in many ways to address serious issues: teacher retention; the production of Irish language learning resources; support for examination marking; and the need to adequately address the challenge of providing specialised staffing for Irish language-speaking students and support for children with special educational needs such as dyslexia, including the provision of support for speech and language therapy and child psychology. Those prominent outstanding concerns remain. <BR /> <BR />Despite a lack of support and investment, our Irish-medium sector teachers and staff do incredible work, as I have seen at first hand in my constituency at Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in Dungiven.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate, and I thank the Member to my left for introducing the Bill. To echo the sentiment of the Chair of the Education Committee, we have heard extensively about the issue. We have heard a number of panels talk about the challenges in the Irish-medium sector and with workforce planning, so I really welcome the opportunity that the Bill presents. <BR /> <BR />We must celebrate the remarkable growth of the Irish-medium sector, which has seen a 400% increase in the past 25 years. Although the demand for Irish-medium education continues to climb, teachers and school leaders in the sector rightfully contend that they feel very strongly that funding has not been matched at an appropriate level by the Department.”
“Ultimately, we have the shared goal, across the House, of ending child poverty, keeping our young people's stomachs full and making sure that they have the support that they need inside and outside school, and we really need to understand what this could look like financially. <BR /> <BR />Across the North, families are crying out for support. They have a real desire to see the Executive and Assembly make a real difference that they can feel in their lives. I have had conversations with Danny and can tell that he is genuinely passionate about the issue. The SDLP supports the Bill at Second Stage.”
“I strongly believe that Ministers from across the DUP, Sinn Féin, Alliance and the UUP must work more closely together on delivery and particularly on delivery in relation to child poverty, given its prevalence in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I anticipate that the fundamental issue — the core issue — with the Bill will be the fact that money is a real problem. We have heard from Ministers across the House today about the financial challenges. I would appreciate it, therefore, if Mr Baker could, in his winding-up speech, touch on what conversations he has had with the Finance Minister. That would be welcome.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill will not solve child poverty, but it represents a practical step forward, dovetails with the Minister's priorities and could be a positive example of cross-party collaboration. It will ensure that support does not simply stop at the school gate, and it recognises the importance of a child's having the ability to learn and the fact that that does not pause during the school holidays. I firmly believe that, if we are serious about breaking the link between disadvantage and attainment, we must act consistently, not selectively. We cannot champion educational equality during term time and blatantly ignore inequalities and challenges during the school holidays.”
“We know that that support was withdrawn not because the scheme had failed but simply due to budgetary decisions, but the need did not disappear along with it. Evaluations of that scheme and other schemes internationally have demonstrated that such payments are used, as intended, to purchase food, ease financial pressures and provide a degree of stability during periods that are otherwise particularly challenging for low-income households. We know that the long-term costs of inaction are far greater than the short-term costs of intervention. Children who experience persistent poverty are more likely to face poorer educational outcomes, reduced employment opportunities and, later in life, poorer health outcomes. Addressing food insecurity is not, therefore, just a moral imperative but an economic one.”
“We remain concerned, however, that, as the summer holidays approach, those children will be at increased risk of going to bed on an empty stomach. That is linked not with parental failure at budgeting but with the reality that money just does not go as far as it used to. <BR /> <BR />By once again extending a direct payment to the parent of a child on free school meals, we will extend the hope that children will not be sent to bed on an empty stomach. Given what we know about the link between poverty and educational outcomes and between hunger and health, the arguments for returning to that payment are self-evident. Indeed, looking back, we see that families across the North received the school holiday food grant between 2020 and 2023, which supported nearly 100,000 children.”
“<BR /> <BR />If we are serious about tackling educational underachievement, we must recognise the importance of tackling poverty among our young people. As highlighted by Save the Children, poverty is a major driver of educational underachievement, leading to higher rates of absenteeism and lower grades as well as higher rates of poor mental health and, sadly, lower levels of extracurricular participation. <BR /> <BR />Research shows that, in attending school, some of the most impoverished children benefit from having at least one hot school meal. That might be the only hot square meal that they receive in a day. It is a true lifeline for so many parents already struggling with the rising costs of rent and, now, fuel and, of course, food.”
“I thank the Member to my left for sponsoring the Bill and giving us the opportunity to speak further to this important issue today. <BR /> <BR />The Education Minister has made clear his intention to raise educational achievement and reduce educational disadvantage. His goal is shared across the House; every one of us is united on it. If we want that to become a reality rather than just rhetoric, we must take action on the child poverty that exists right now in classrooms across Northern Ireland. Last September, a Trussell Trust report revealed that over half a million people across the North, including over 130,000 children, are experiencing food insecurity. The figure is stark and shocking. Those children are part of the cohort of nearly one in three across the UK who live in poverty.”
“Many women feel that men get more time in prison for a drugs offence than they do for attempted murder. The system is not fair, and it needs changed. It is time for harsher laws; for more education; and to make those who instil fear in women feel the fear of the law and the consequences of their violent actions. Enough is enough. An unchanged society will continue to leave a generation of Northern Ireland's daughters dying at the hands of inaction and brutality. <BR /> <BR />May God bless Amy, Ellie and their families in the coming days, and may their precious souls rest in peace.”
“That collective holding of breath for women across Northern Ireland is not only wrong but unfair. <BR /> <BR />We must call this what it is: femicide. We cannot become accustomed to 30 women being brutally murdered since 2020 as "normal". Ellie Flanagan was 23 years old with her whole life ahead of her. She was known and loved by all in her community, her family and her friends. It is a true tragedy. Those beautiful, caring, loved women are so much more than just statistics and names on a page. I say, "No more" to this horrific behaviour. The cruelty and brutality of such men must end. That means ensuring that men speak up and join our voices and believe us when we tell our stories. We must get to the root of this horrific, ongoing problem.”
“There really is nothing to say other than what other Members have echoed today. It feels as if, every other week, we stand in the Chamber, grieve the life of another woman brutally taken and demand change. We demand action; a few weeks pass; and then, sadly, the cycle begins again. <BR /> <BR />In the past week, women across the North have shared online their stories of surviving domestic abuse. They have compared living with abusive partners to a living, breathing nightmare. Their lives are lived on eggshells, and their children are scarred for life. We all know and love someone in a domestic abusive relationship — someone whom we check in with regularly. We know the fear that they feel. We pray and hope that the next horrific headline will not be about them. I say that that is not good enough.”
“Amy Doherty was in her late 20s.She was mother to Rhea and Ronan; a loved daughter of Patrick and Sharon; a sister to Shane and Ryan; a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin and a friend to many. Over the weekend and today, I have been genuinely lost for words to say about the continuing murders and to say to Amy's family to provide them with comfort.”
“While we celebrate Jessie Buckley, who is one of us, we also celebrate the pride that we feel in being Irish, the Irish identity, Irish talent and, of course, the importance of celebrating and investing in the local arts.”
“If we support opportunities for them, their creativity can take them anywhere: as evidenced by Jessie Buckley, it could even take them to Hollywood. <BR /> <BR />Today, as we celebrate Jessie Buckley's incredible achievement, let it remind us of something important: we must invest in the arts locally and in the potential of our next generation here at home. From west Belfast's Anthony Boyle and Lola Petticrew to the South's Paul Mescal and Cillian Murphy, we have a hub of talent on this island, North and South. That is why local investment is so important. The closure of the Riverside Theatre in my constituency was so heartbreaking for so many of us. Who knows what lies ahead? The next Oscar winner may well be growing up today in Coleraine or somewhere else in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />What makes the moment especially meaningful for those of us on the north coast is that the film 'Hamnet' is based on the novel by Coleraine-born writer Maggie O'Farrell. Her powerful storytelling helped bring a remarkable story to life and, thankfully, on to the global stage. That connection reminds us that extraordinary creative talents exist not only in the world's major cities but right here in our communities at home. That is why it is so crucial that we fund the arts locally. Local arts programmes give so many people, particularly our young people, the opportunity to build their confidence and to imagine futures that they may never have thought possible. Somewhere in Northern Ireland today, young people are writing their first story, stepping on to a small stage or discovering their voice through music or drama.”
“I will inject some positivity into the Chamber this afternoon. Last night, many of us across Ireland felt immense and enormous pride watching Jessie Buckley step on to the world's biggest stage to accept an Oscar for best actress. For a young woman from Killarney to reach the pinnacle of international cinema is truly remarkable, but journeys such as Jessie Buckley's do not begin on red carpets in Hollywood; they begin in our school halls, in local theatres, in youth and drama groups and through community arts programmes. Those are the very places where local talent is first discovered and where confidence, particularly that of our young people, begins to grow.”
“Minister, in America, the state of Pennsylvania ran a successful pilot of the removal of university degrees from the essential requirements of 90% of civil service job applications. Currently, it takes up to 11 months to fill a Civil Service vacancy here, and many people without degrees feel left behind and frozen out of such opportunities. Would it not be fairer and wiser to explore doing the same thing here?”
“Thank you, Minister. I met community transport providers this morning. Will you commit to meeting them to explore this further and to utilise them to provide a solution that is best for our children and is economically and environmentally beneficial for all?”
“Junior Minister, will you outline your Department's recent engagement with organisations such as Women's Aid to ensure that the strategy is having the intended impact on the ground, particularly in the north-west, where gender-based violence is, sadly, so prevalent?”
“That speaks in union with the Sinn Féin amendment. We need robust age assurance. We need safety-by-design requirements for our children's experiences. We need clear enforcement; we need digital literacy; and we need to support our young people to keep them safe online and offline every day.”
“<BR /> <BR />I acknowledge that we cannot pass one simple vote, make one simple change and declare the job done. That is why the motion explicitly acknowledges that:”
“Just yesterday, 9 February 2026, a young woman called Prin-May Dickson, who endured horrific abuse on social media and on the gossip platform Tattle Life, died by suicide. She was just 16 years old. Today, I think of her family, and it is a poignant reminder of how we must act appropriately when it comes to social media platforms and our young people. <BR /> <BR />The motion also rightly highlights the addictive design features, which matter because the systems are engineered to maximise time on platform engagement and data extraction from our young people. Endless scroll, autoplay, push notification and algorithmic feeds are not neutral features; they are behaviour-shaping mechanisms. It is really important to note that, given that our young people's brains are still developing.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many will rightly see it as a parenting issue, but we know that parents are often in the dark. A new UK Government campaign launched today reveals research that around half of parents have never spoken to their children about toxic online content. Mr Baker will agree with me that many parents do not know what a virtual private network (VPN) is; they do not know what incognito mode is; and they do not understand that images and text messages can disappear and thus leave behind no trail or footprints when people are chatting on online platforms. <BR /> <BR />The platforms and social media sites are, sadly, a dream for predators, such as in the deeply sad, horrific Alexander McCartney case, which, sadly, led to two suicides and many victims scarred for life. It is unthinkable, yet it happens every day.”
“In the interests of time, I will not give way, but I look forward to our discussion later. <BR /> <BR />It is a day for recognising that we do not let our kids gamble and do not let them smoke or drink, so why do we give them access to social media platforms that have a plethora of harms at the touch of their fingertips? We are here today to have a tough conversation and, perhaps, an uncomfortable one. Such stances may make us unpopular and might even cost us a few votes, but it is important that we take them. <BR /> <BR />Years ago, if you made a silly mistake as a child or teenager, it was assigned to the past. Now, due to phones, social media and the rise of smartphone-enabled surveillance culture, mistakes that you make live for ever online. That is not right, and it is a lot for our children to bear.”
“It is daily: day and night. Children have access to phones around the clock. The new generation are tech-literate; often, much more so than their parents. <BR /> <BR />The motion will not be popular with under-16s. When I was 16, thinking that I knew better, I would have detested someone like me who said that they would take away my social media. I am a little older now and further removed from that. It is important to have the conversation as adults and make tough decisions to protect our children.”
“On this island, conversations are already taking place on that in the South. I fear that, if we do not move to have those discussions now, our children will be left behind. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear from the outset that the SDLP and I know that an instant ban is not a perfect fix. It must not be brought in prematurely, and it is not a silver bullet. I firmly believe, however, that a ban is a proportionate step — one of many — in the right direction. Children see harmful content every day. We cannot debate the issue honestly until we recognise what children see and experience. Recent research by Ofcom revealed that seven out of 10 children aged 11 to 17 have either seen or heard harmful content online. That could be pornography, graphic murders such as beheadings, suicides and more. It is not odd or occasional exposure; it is routine.”
“and life-ruining — sadly, sometimes, life-ending — online abuse. It recognises that:”
“I welcome the opportunity to raise the issue. I believe firmly that it is time to have a conversation about the next steps on this important issue. The evidence is growing, public concern is rising and our children are growing up in a world where they are navigating a complex online environment that was not designed with either their safety or development in mind. <BR /> <BR />Today, we will debate the issue that the Assembly:”
“As we are speaking of alcoholism and the wider point of educational disadvantage, I say that this is national Children of Alcoholics Week. Minister, will you agree to have a meeting with the Education Minister on supporting the health and well-being of those children in our classrooms to ensure that we do all that we can between both Departments to help support those children on their educational journey?”
“Ending academic selection is not the whole answer, but, without it, there is no credible route to true educational equality. I commend the amendment to the House.”
“Recently, the Committee learned about some of the steps that the South is taking to tackle educational disadvantage through targeted disadvantage programmes, such as delivering equality of opportunity in schools (DEIS). I found that very interesting, Minister. The result is a system that values excellence but does not label children as "failures" before they become adolescents or rely on selection to drive improvement. <BR /> <BR />We tabled the amendment to highlight how disadvantaged children feel that they are not being given a fair chance to flourish. The motion asks us to be honest about what evidence already tells us. We have to be brave enough to learn from elsewhere and be serious about building an education system that works for every child, regardless of their background.”