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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“God forbid that a woman use the bathroom, Minister. I certainly was not gone for half an hour. It was a matter of minutes. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear: I am an SDLP MLA who has been elected to the House to advocate for children. I will be cold and dead in the ground before I do not use my platform to put to the House the right of children —”
“It is about parents not having to make impossible choices and children not having to miss out on the simple right of a nutritious meal, allowing them to thrive in the classroom. We call on the Minister to recognise the evidence that we have discussed here today, commit to expanding free school meals, restore holiday food support and deliver a funded path to universal provision by 2030. We cannot leave our families and, most importantly, our children behind. I commend the motion to the House.”
“It is time that we prioritise families. Children who should be protected are waking up hungry or skipping meals. That cannot continue; it cannot stay that way. Free school meals are not an optional cost; they really are an investment in the future of our children. They are a foundational building block for a child's well-being, learning outcomes and social mobility. If we are really serious about ensuring equality, tackling the attainment gap and lifting people out of poverty, we must act now. <BR /> <BR />The motion is not just about providing meals or virtue signalling; it is about dignity, fairness, our children's futures and the importance of equal access to opportunity.”
“We ask that the Minister of Education, in collaboration with the Minister of Finance and the wider sector, commits to a clear, transparent, funded road map. That plan should include timelines, pilot schemes, phased universal access that will be extended to all children by 2030 and resource commitments to deliver it sustainably. <BR /> <BR />What role can the Executive play? The Executive claim that they are serious about tackling poverty and inequality, yet it is clear that we are falling behind other jurisdictions across these islands when it comes to free school meal provision. Other Governments are expanding universal or nearly universal access, reducing stigma and closing gaps. Every day, families in Northern Ireland are being squeezed. School meal price increases and rising costs are really hitting families.”
“<BR /> <BR />Today, we call on the Minister to significantly expand eligibility for free school meals ahead of making them universal. We demand that the eligibility criteria be widened so that many more low-income families and children who are currently excluded can access free breakfast or lunch at school. It is not acceptable that nearly one in five children in poverty in Northern Ireland remains ineligible. That is a failure. We call for the reinstatement or a redesign of holiday provision. The previous school holiday food grant scheme provided essential support to children and families during breaks and ensured that our children did not go hungry when detached from school provision. That must be restored or reformed now.”
“Providing free meals ensures that every child at school is nourished and ready to learn and reduces hunger or stress, which damages concentration in the classroom. Research makes it clear that free school meals improve pupils' nutrition, health, attendance, engagement, behaviour and, ultimately, educational attainment and long-term outcomes. Free school meals should be viewed not merely as a cost but as a long-term investment, with improved health, better progression, reduced inequalities and reduced costs elsewhere in the system. Studies in the UK have shown that universal or expanded provision can, most importantly, reduce stigma, drive up healthy eating and deliver returns in reduced child poverty and social mobility.”
“Many working families are stretched to breaking point. The number of children living in poverty in Northern Ireland remains alarmingly high. According to recent figures, around 26% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. That leaves a significant portion of children who live in poverty but who are not currently covered. Furthermore, we in the SDLP find the decision to halt the school holiday food grant scheme deeply regrettable. It previously provided vital support to low-income families during the school holidays, when children lose a daily meal at school and are at an increased risk of hunger. That policy change has definitely left a gap. <BR /> <BR />There is clear evidence that children from low-income backgrounds and those who qualify for free school meals face an attainment gap in our schools.”
“The need for more to have access to free school meals is evident. I know that more families really wish that they could benefit from them. <BR /> <BR />Today, I urge the Minister to commit to a bold, transformative ambition: a serious expansion of free school meal provision across our schools, with a funded plan to deliver universal access by 2030. The proposal recognises that providing free school meals in primary schools and throughout the school system delivers multiple benefits: improved nutrition, enhanced educational outcomes and long-term economic returns for our society. Why does that matter? We know that families face growing pressures and struggles with food insecurity. We know that they are under immense pressure because of the cost-of-living crisis, with the ever-increasing price of food, energy and basic essentials.”
“I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on this important motion. Simply put, we will be discussing the need to fill the tummies of children in our schools in order to empower and uplift them with at least one guaranteed meal a day. <BR /> <BR />Hunger is recognised as a marker of an adverse childhood experience (ACE). Too often, children struggle with poverty and hunger in total silence, too pained to ask for lunch money when they know that their parents simply do not have it. This is not an issue in a faraway country; it is right here, at home, in Northern Ireland. Our children are literally starving in our classrooms, particularly those who have parents on low incomes. The Research and Information Service (RaISe) has revealed that, in my constituency, almost 50% of children in the Coleraine area benefit from free school meals.”
“Let us act urgently so that we can honestly say that we did all that we could to prevent another funeral and another family being destroyed and that lives have been saved not just through policy wins but through our shared responsibility.”
“They are cheap and quick to deploy, and data from evaluations of them shows that they reduce average speeds and high-speed driving, particularly around schools and rural lanes, where many accidents happen. <BR /> <BR />With Christmas approaching, there really is no time more urgent than now. Our roads are icy, and, paired with the glaring sun at this time in the season, that makes drivers nervous on the road. We can all speed unintentionally from time to time, and I urge everyone to think twice, particularly in the current weather conditions. I ask the Department for Infrastructure to do everything in its gift to end dangerous driving through speeding.”
“That is a simple, proven high-value safety measure that we should prioritise island-wide, and it is evidenced to save lives in other jurisdictions, such as those in Scandinavia. <BR /> <BR />I ask the Minister for Infrastructure to liaise closely with our Education Minister to educate teenagers in schools. Crashes do not happen in a vacuum. Public behaviour matters, and we need an all-island road safety campaign pushed out on TV and online that is high-impact and notifies drivers of the importance of being safe on the roads. Locally, we know that we need to implement more speed indicator devices (SIDs). They show drivers their speed in real time and are so important. They are probably one of the most valued tools that we have.”
“In just the past number of days, we have, sadly, heard of many road traffic accidents and of pedestrians being killed by a car. I rise today to speak further on how the dangers of our roads cannot be overstated. For example, the A5, which is just one road, has claimed over 50 lives since 2006. In Northern Ireland, particularly in the winter months, we are short on daylight. Drivers navigate many hours in low-light conditions, yet too many travel without their lights on. That is a life-threatening risk. I ask today that the Minister for Infrastructure explores evidence from other jurisdictions that shows that requiring dipped headlights or daytime running lights can meaningfully reduce crashes and save lives.”
“I will talk about the importance of road safety and reflect on the tragedy of the passing of Katya Watson, one of my constituents, who was involved in a road traffic accident outside Ballymena and died on 13 December 2023. She was a beautiful and smart young lady with her whole life ahead of her. She is remembered lovingly by her friends and family. She was a beloved daughter of Eamon and Angelique and loving sister of Gabriella, Francesca and Aurora and twin sister of Lucia.”
“Minister, I have engaged with parents with a faith and without faith, and it is clear that it is not impossible to ensure that our curriculum provides a balanced and inclusive education for all our children, while also allowing schools to fulfil their Christian ethos where they have one. Will the Minister commit, today and henceforth, to approaching the issue with pragmatism and with the common good in mind for all our children?”
“Minister, given the clear benefits of early diagnosis, will you commit to setting a target of 12 weeks by which no patient will wait longer for a dementia assessment? Will you detail further some of the current waiting times in Northern Ireland?”
“It will also require an outdoor learning strategy, co-designed with teachers, that removes practical barriers and makes it genuinely easier for our schools and pupils to go outside. That will lessen screen usage, get our children excited by nature, improve school attendance and improve our young people's mental health, equipping a generation with the skills, well-being and environmental awareness that they need for the future that lies ahead. The SDLP wholeheartedly supports the motion.”
“Thank you. I thank the Member for his intervention and agree wholeheartedly. In my constituency, we have Woodhall outdoor learning centre in Kilrea. Given the benefits that it provides, particularly through a residential experience, it is absolutely necessary. I have no doubt that it is important for the Minister to listen to the need for investment in the Member's constituency. <BR /> <BR />This motion recognises that inclusive outdoor learning is key to our young people's development from the age of three to 18. It is crucial that they have weekly, progressive and sustainable outdoor learning opportunities built into the curriculum by the end of 2026. That will require leadership, support, time, clear policy signals and resourcing.”
“We know that children today spend less time outdoors than in previous generations. Recent UK research shows that one in three children does not play outside after school at all. It is crazy that, in one generation, children have changed from fighting to be out of the house until the street lights came on to now fighting to get back indoors to get access to iPads and screens. Outdoor education can be a really firm and strong step in changing that. <BR /> <BR />As other Members have said, schools cannot solve that problem alone, but they can be part of the solution. Finding joy outside is just so important. Currently, provision of outdoor learning remains patchy and depends too often on the enthusiasm of individual teachers. It is not yet fully embedded systematically in the curriculum or in school planning. That must change.”
“Time in nature is linked with better attendance, better concentration and teamwork, particularly for children who really struggle in traditional classroom settings or who have non-traditional needs. I think particularly of Rossmar School in Limavady in my constituency, which has a really strong focus on outdoor play and learning. It has a little forest school outside with a mud garden in which children with special educational needs can learn. It is fantastic. <BR /> <BR />Wider forest school approaches have been shown specifically to improve confidence, independence, language and communication skills and emotional resilience. As an adult, I find that being in nature is so great for the head, and, of course, it gives young people important time away from screens.”
“Over the past number of months at the Education Committee, we have heard from the experts — the Northern Ireland Forest School Association and the Magilligan Field Centre — and, of course, from wider contributors such as principals, teachers and pupils about the importance of outdoor learning and of seeing the outdoors, as the Chair rightly said, not as a reward but as a classroom itself. The message is clear that this kind of learning is not a luxury; it is core to how some children learn best. Evidence backs that up: studies across these islands show that regular, nature-based outdoor learning improves pupils' enjoyment of lessons and can improve their behaviour, social skills and even educational attainment.”
“To this day, I remember everything that I learnt that day. Getting outside on such a sunny day in such a beautiful constituency was a unique experience, so I welcome the opportunity to discuss the importance of outdoor learning further today.”
“I thank the Chair of the Committee for tabling this important motion. It is really nice that we, as a Committee and as a collective, endorse and support it. From my school experience of outdoor learning, I vividly remember that, while attending Dominican College in Portstewart, which is based beside the sea, many moons ago, we had a biology class outdoors — going out and learning about plants and how they work.”
“Any clarification or increased communication that you can offer my constituents, Minister, would be most welcome. <BR /> <BR />I again thank the Member for raising this. Any opportunity to discuss important topics such as mental illness, mental health as a whole and suicide prevention is most welcome.”
“Of anywhere across these islands, it is most common here, and we must ensure that we do everything that we can about suicide prevention and invest, wherever possible, in helping people. <BR /> <BR />Recently, SOS Causeway met the Northern Trust to ask for clearer communication about the potential closure of the Ross Thomson unit in Coleraine. That is seen as being a cornerstone of mental health provision in East Derry. Many people feel that there is just not enough communication with the public or the voluntary and community associations and organisations in my constituency. Campaigners have highlighted the need for improved communication, meaningful involvement with them and transparent planning of future mental health provision for East Derry constituents.”
“I thank Declan for raising this. I did not intend to speak today, as it is not my constituency; I just wanted to listen in. It is important, however, to be here to contribute to any debate on the expansion of our mental health services in the trust area. I, too, am very concerned about the lack of clarity on this important project and echo the concerns that have been expressed by Members today. It would be welcome if the Minister could provide a timeline, as well as an update on whether he will expedite the approval and some clarity on any financial constraints that he is facing. <BR /> <BR />I echo other Members' comments in noting, with extreme concern, the prevalence of suicide and mental illness in the North.”
“We do not agree on much, Minister, but I am glad that we agree that smartphones do not belong in schools, so I welcome that. Referring to my initial point about instilling confidence in young people, there are school projects in the South that teach 11- to 17-year-olds how to be critical about media influence and build self-resilience and self-worth. In the North, there is nothing mandatory on the curriculum on that issue. There is no class or compulsory module for every school to provide that education. Does that concern you, and, if so, will you consider changing that, reviewing that or looking at it further?”
“Thank you, Minister. At the time of the proposed amalgamation, the school was described as a flagship school for the whole island, yet we have had delay after delay, the interim board of governors resigning and three school communities feeling abandoned. I have spoken to their prinicipals. When will we get funding for a single-site campus? When will the plans begin?”
“Minister, we share the beautiful constituency of East Derry. It has areas of outstanding natural beauty and a stunning coast. What developments do you have in mind to expand rural tourism in our constituency?”
“No, thank you. I am almost done. <BR /> <BR />Once we accept the premise, the technology has the potential to invade our lives and individual freedoms even more. <BR /> <BR />The mark of a free society is not how efficiently it monitors its citizens but how fiercely it protects their right to live unmonitored. The BritCard is not the future, but it is a warning that our privacy, autonomy and very humanity are being traded. The people of Northern Ireland value their freedom more than a digital footprint. Let us lead by example, stand for liberty and say with one voice that we are citizens. As Robbie Butler rightly said, we are not barcodes. We reject the idea of a digital ID, and we will defend the right of our citizens to freedom and privacy without Government oversight.”
“That is why today is so important: it means that we can have a vote to reject and resist this. <BR /> <BR />The debate has been interesting and eye-opening. I welcome the fact that every party, despite their beliefs, background or views of London, is standing together to reject what is a violation of privacy for our citizens here. Today, it is digital ID, but, tomorrow, it could be something a lot more sinister such as facial recognition, databases, movement scoring or technology-driven profiling. We say no to that: it is Government overreach. We must say no now and say no later —”
“It is about the right to privacy, which is not a luxury but the foundation of freedom of thought, speech and conscience. Without privacy, there is no real democracy. The European Convention on Human Rights recognises that, as do international law and our moral conscience. When people fear that their data, associations or movements are being monitored, they self-censor and withdraw and democracy decays from the inside out. <BR /> <BR />Freedom is messy and inconvenient. Sometimes, it means that Government do not know everything about everyone but that is a good thing. A truly democratic Government should trust their citizens more than their want to control them. The digital ID proposal flips that principle on its head. It says, "We own your identity, not you".”
“They grow quietly and incrementally until surveillance becomes normal and privacy becomes suspicious. This Government have no right. Not only will the scheme be incredibly costly, as other Members have mentioned, but this Government cannot be trusted with that power and with the data of our people. <BR /> <BR />In the Northern Irish context, the language is inherently divisive. Having something called a BritCard imposed here would be divisive by design and would undermine the delicate trust that has been built through decades of peace and shared institutions and the right to identity. <BR /> <BR />Our history tells us that, when the Government seek to know everything about everyone, freedom is always the first casualty. This is about rights, democracy and the right to choose what you want.”
“No, thank you. I have a lot to get through. <BR /> <BR />That, in many ways, feels reminiscent of '1984' or, more modernly, a 'Black Mirror' episode. The BritCard is not about convenience; it is very much about control. To many, a digital ID can sound harmless — to some, it may even sound helpful — but when the Government hold a single key to your data and identity, they hold the power to decide eventually who you are and what you can access. We in Northern Ireland reject that wholeheartedly. <BR /> <BR />We have seen the trajectory in other countries and how digital IDs can become a precondition for opening a bank account, seeing a doctor or accessing public services. Sadly, we have seen that, once implemented, those systems do not stop expanding.”
“Yet, under the guise of modernisation, the British Government now want to bring in a digital ID that could link your identity, finances, health, travel and, eventually, freedom into one state-controlled system.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the motion and thank the Members to my left for tabling it. The SDLP will support the motion and the amendment. I firmly reject any form of digital ID. The debate is about freedom and its importance, and it is about the right of every citizen to exist without being monitored, logged and tracked by their own Government. I fiercely condemn the proposed introduction of the so-called BritCard, a digital ID scheme that has no place in a free society and certainly has no mandate or want from the people of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Every citizen has the right to exist outside digital infrastructure or entirely off the grid if they wish. They have a right to personal liberty. The principles of autonomy and the right to privacy are sacred.”
“Minister, understandably, parents are distressed about the 20% increase, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas, where every penny counts. Will you consider revisiting the threshold for free school meals, recognising that, as you said, Minister, working parents who have multiple children are under significant financial pressure?”
“Today's motion is not sectarian; it is certainly not antisemitic; it is not about orange and green; and it is not selective outrage. The violence of 7 October was wrong, and the continued slaughter of innocent Palestinian people to this day is wrong. Today's motion gives voice to so many across Northern Ireland about how they feel. It is led by the people of Northern Ireland: the pupils, parents, unions and teachers who have sent us all, I imagine, countless messages about their outrage. I speak for them when I say this: no more. It is time for the Minister to resign.”
“It is generally used to mean that, when an organisation or state fails, the leadership is to blame, because dysfunction starts at the top. The Minister has clearly failed to act correctly. He has failed morally; he has failed professionally; and he has failed the children, parents and teachers of Northern Ireland.”
“Those are not the words of the SDLP but the words of members of the public. <BR /> <BR />There is an old proverb that states:”
“The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) stated that accepting the invitation is:”
“Israel has killed Christians and their families in Gaza. You have stood, smiled and waved with the Israeli Government despite the fact that they have murdered innocent Christians, Muslims and others. It is important to mention that, because it has been painfully overlooked throughout the debate. I am not virtue-signalling or acting morally superior. I just genuinely do not understand why that is continually overlooked. <BR /> <BR />The Minister of Education undertook a paid trip to a place with a Government who have bombed schools, universities and hospitals. That is beyond understanding. The Minister's decision has been criticised by the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council (NITC) as an:”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. What Mr Givan does in his own time, as a private citizen, is a matter for him. What he wishes to do and where he wishes to visit as a DUP MLA, outside of his ministerial role, is a matter for him, but today's motion is simple. In his role as Minister, can we have confidence in him when he chose to lend the prestige of his office to his trip with the Israeli Government, who are carrying out what is arguably the greatest atrocity of this century? <BR /> <BR />Minister, you pride yourself on being a believer in Jesus Christ. You pride yourself on being a Christian. You are proud to be someone who uplifts, educates and empowers children. You and your colleagues have rightly spoken out passionately about Christians being persecuted across the globe, yet Israel has bombed Christians in Gaza.”
“In your role, Minister, you have not allowed girls to wear trousers to school, and you did not include in legislation a number of amendments that we had worked hard on in Committee to assist children with sensory needs and to provide period dignity for our young people. Today, we are asked to scrutinise the conduct and judgement of the Minister, who accepted a state-funded visit to Israel: a state that has engaged in the relentless and wholesale destruction of Gaza and that has killed innocent women and children. Those are the facts. <BR /> <BR />What Mr Givan wishes to do as a private citizen is a matter for him.”
“Minister, you have been hailed by political commentators as a doer: a man who is getting things done. I begin by complimenting you, because I do think that you are a doer, but the problem is that you are not bringing anyone along with you. In the past number of weeks, you have been extremely and deliberately divisive, and, both last week and this week, when we were discussing humanitarian tragedies, you smiled like a Cheshire cat. It is not me who is saying that, Minister. Rather, it has been pointed out in the many messages that I have received from people from across our communities who feel outraged. <BR /> <BR />Today's debate goes beyond the trip that the Israeli Government paid for, which was inherently political and divisive.”
“It is vital that the Executive fight for local communities and the people whose families have lived in our towns for generations and protect their right to live and work in the place in which they grew up and call home.”
“She, too, is passionate about this topic and, as I have done, has met constituents who are living through the most horrific circumstances. Each of the places across Europe that I have mentioned have recognised the same truth that we now must face here in Northern Ireland: unrestrained second homeownership and unchecked short-term letting are not benign byproducts of tourism. They are drivers of housing insecurity and social decline in our communities. As the SDLP MLA for East Derry, I know that it is important to keep pushing the issue again and again in the House. I cannot reiterate enough the need for data and the need to monitor the issue. Constituents feel that they are not being listened to. So much more could be done.”
“Ahead of today, I conducted some research into how other places are dealing with the issue. In Wales, local councils have been empowered to introduce planning rules to limit new second homes and apply higher council tax premiums where they hollow out local communities similar to ours. In Cornwall, new housing developments can now be reserved for people who live there all year round. In France, they have gone further and allow towns where second homes exceed 20% of housing stock to zone land for primary residents only. In Spain, such cities as Malaga and Seville have begun freezing new short-term rental licences to keep homes for local families to avoid pushing them out. <BR /> <BR />I thank my colleague Claire Sugden — I hope that she feels better.”
“As I said in an Adjournment debate here months ago, the reality of the industry being left unchecked is fragmented communities, soaring house prices, and villages and towns, such as those in my constituency, being left desolate in the off-season as homes sit unoccupied. I urge the Minister for Communities and the wider Executive to, please, grasp the severity of this — grasp the nettle — and take action to remedy this genuinely horrific state of affairs. Each and every day, I speak with families who are homeless, who are sofa-surfing, whose children cannot bring friends over after school and who are living in their parents' living rooms. It is devastating. The home is the foundation on which you build your life, your stability and your sense of security. Without homes, people struggle severely. <BR /> <BR />We need to find solutions.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the north coast, our once-thriving nightclubs languish as students from the west and beyond are forced into a life of commuting. We have seen a change in how students live: fewer are coming to live in the Coleraine/Portstewart area. Cultural institutions are struggling for numbers, while thousands of locals live in misery as they compete with hundreds to rent a property. This week, I heard of a young family who applied for over 100 houses in the north coast area, were unsuccessful in securing one and now have to live in Ballycastle. That speaks to the severity of the issue. <BR /> <BR />The proliferation of second homes is a problem that must be faced down if we are to make meaningful progress on the problem.”