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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“The knock-on impact of a lack of available housing is displacement, emigration and despair for the thousands who, sadly, find themselves reduced to a life of sofa-surfing. Just last week, I helped an elderly man in his 70s who is homeless. It was devastating to see the situation — probably, one of the worst cases that I have had as an MLA — and heartbreaking to witness at first-hand the way that he has to live each and every day without a sense of security. It speaks to the failure that we have in the North of Ireland to address the housing crisis. It has led to the separation of families, a brain drain and economic decline in our communities, and schools have faced challenges as a result of the lack of available housing, which is particularly driven by second homeownership.”
“People from the north coast in particular — people who grew up there; people whom I know who were schooled there; and people who have roots and connections there dating back decades and generations — are increasingly being forced to make lives elsewhere when they do not want to. It is not fair, and it is not right. It is ruining the very fabric of our towns and villages. Our towns are literally dying. We need the Executive to listen to us. We have empty streets with no children in them, and we have empty houses with no people in them. It really is killing our sense of community. <BR /> <BR />The failure to build homes, and the failure of the Communities Minister to monitor or regulate second homes, are huge failures.”
“There are onerous planning regulations; there is a lack of adequate sewage infrastructure; there is a lack of security in private rentals; there are rising rents; and, of course, there is a failure to build social housing at the pace that is so desperately needed. For those who do not have a home of their own or a secure and sustainable tenancy, the problem is acute and painful, but that problem bleeds into every single aspect of their life and impacts on entire families. <BR /> <BR />I recently spoke in my office with the Portstewart Community Association. That group has made it incredibly clear that the lack of housing and the explosion of second homeownership in our constituency, particularly at the north coast, is leading to the unravelling of community life and of the sense of community as we know it.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am raising this issue in the House yet again, and, if I am to be frank, I am sick, sore and tired of doing so. It is an issue that rightfully angers so many of my constituents. The rising number of second homes is pushing them out of the very towns that they were raised in. There are no children in the streets. There are over 532 second homes in the one small town of Portstewart. That leads not only to a breakdown of community but to so much more. As the SDLP has stated many times in the Chamber, we are in a housing crisis and a housing emergency, yet we are forced to repeat the conversation yet again today. <BR /> <BR />The challenge to secure housing for all is incredibly complex.”
“On the topic of widening criteria, we have heard that there are some challenges with students in further education applying for a student placement. Are you aware of that, and can you tell us more?”
“He is laughing like a Disney villain. On Standing Order 73, is it in order for the Minister to accuse many across the House of antisemitism when we have spoken passionately, condemning the violence of 7 October and strongly condemning antisemitism here at home? Standing Order 20 states that Ministers shall answer questions relating to matters affiliated with their Department. Is it appropriate that the Minister here today answered fewer than half of the questions from all Members of the House?”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have a number of points of order to make. Regarding Standing Order 65, is it appropriate for the Minister to be laughing, sniggering and smiling when we are talking about the killing of thousands of innocent children?”
“Minister, you have said that you were on a fact-finding mission, but here are the facts that you might not have been presented with while in illegally occupied territory: more than 50,000 children in Gaza have been murdered and injured by Israel. While your politics and your morality are ultimately your own and are a matter for yourself, it is clear, through public messaging, that departmental time and official platforms were used to promote what was your highly controversial trip. Minister, you said today that no public funds were used, but who hit "send" on the public messaging? Did you instruct your departmental officials to use official channels to promote what was clearly a very political visit and, in doing so, bring not only yourself but your Department into disrepute?”
“It is really important that we do all we can to support young people with autism. Minister, will you agree to establish a cross-departmental work group to address this cross-cutting issue? As I understand it, there are many sectors and aspects to the issue and to supporting children with autism from Communities and Education etc.”
“Understandably, constituents are angry at the continued delays on that road. We know with roadworks that delays sometimes cannot be helped, but people feel that they are not being listened to. Will the Minister commit some time in the next month to come to Ballykelly, meet me and other elected reps and speak with constituents about the ongoing delays? People are missing health appointments, school and so much more.”
“Perhaps I will expand a little further. The SENCO said that it took one hour and one minute on hold for her to be put through to a support worker to provide support for a child with complex needs, only to be told that the staff member was not at their desk. At the same time, Minister, parents are being taken to court in Northern Ireland because a child with special educational needs is not attending school. They are not getting the right support. Do you think that the work that you have done is acceptable? What are you going to do about it?”
“I am asking the Health Minister to reassess how we go about supporting people in the deaf community to access healthcare to ensure that each and every citizen — every constituent — has an equal right when getting the help that they so rightfully deserve.”
“We all have a right to equal access to healthcare. She also noted that the signposting and awareness of and public messaging on BSL interpreters was minimal. Access to interpreters for different languages for newcomers to our community was highlighted, and she felt really strongly that BSL and sign-supported English were not adequately signposted or that the public messaging was not appropriate. <BR /> <BR />Following her father's attending hospital, she reached out to her GP to try to get things set up there for a BSL interpreter. The family was told that the GP did not know who to call or how to access that, and, again, it fell on the shoulders of the children to interpret for their parents.”
“She said that, right across the public sector, we really struggle with appropriate email services and in ensuring that we are reaching out to those in the deaf community. <BR /> <BR />She highlighted one incident from a few weeks ago where her father, who has type 2 diabetes, was very ill. They rang ahead to the local hospital to ensure that a BSL interpreter was provided, and, when they landed at the hospital, they became aware that, sadly, there was no interpreter and that, again, it would fall on the shoulders of both children to try to interpret to healthcare staff. I really think that that is absolutely unacceptable. Lots of time was given for the arrangements to be made, and, sadly, it was three hours before an interpreter arrived at the hospital. I have to highlight that concern as a matter of equality.”
“I rise to speak on the important issue of the lack of access to interpreters in our healthcare service for those who are in the deaf community. I recently spoke with a young woman who spoke about how both of her parents are deaf and have struggled profusely to get appropriate access to the NHS and to their local GP. That really is due to the challenges and the lack of training that we have seen for some of our healthcare workers. She highlighted the fact that, sadly, that is a common issue across the deaf community and across the North, and she raised with me the fact that, many times, deaf parents have to rely on their children to make important phone calls on such things as mortgages and banking issues.”
“The Speaker is keen to hear me speak extra soon. Minister, thank you for coming here to answer our questions today. We share a very rural constituency that has a number of childcare providers that face unique challenges as a result of being rural. Those include Appletree Childcare in Glenullin. What engagement have you and your Department had with representatives in those areas who face such challenges?”
“Sadly, at a time when there is that sense of hopelessness in the north-west, we have seen the closure of that vital resource. <BR /> <BR />Alan Chambers mentioned the importance of money. Minister, I know that your heart is in the right place, that you do not have a magic money tree, and that the pressure is on your shoulders, but I and my party are asking you to look urgently at restarting that lifesaving project to help the people of the north-west, who are facing poverty, mental illness and addiction and who are struggling to get detox services and feed their families. CCIS was a vital resource for people who were feeling suicidal. We will do all that we can to get it back up and running, and we need you to help us, Minister.”
“The Minister referred to that as well. <BR /> <BR />Danny Donnelly rightly spoke about feeling as if we are constantly firefighting. Ciara Ferguson mentioned how valued the service was by the people of Derry and how badly it is needed. Being a north-west representative, I feel that I cannot talk about mental health without talking about regional balance. It is important to highlight the long-standing inequalities that Derry and Strabane have faced. My father is from Strabane, and he would kill me if I did not mention Strabane. Those exposed to deprivation face the greatest mental health burden and are up to three times more likely to take their own life. I find that devastating. It ties in with our earlier debate on child poverty as well.”
“If you have been in the north-west, you know that there is often a real sense of hopelessness. Recently, I attended Northlands. The Department used to fund it, and there were challenges with that. For the CCIS to close and for Northlands's funding to have dropped — for those who face the dual diagnosis of addiction and mental illness, that is just a nightmare. It is also a nightmare for the families who love them, and there are just so many struggles. The struggles of the people in the north-west are severe. Many vulnerable people in my constituency have experienced many issues and have gone to the community crisis intervention service, from family breakdown to enduring domestic violence, grief, young people in care, victims of sexual violence or, as Gary Middleton mentioned, those who have been impacted on by intergenerational trauma.”
“The CCIS was the perfect location to take those vulnerable people at the lowest points in their lives and provide them with somewhere confidential and safe, where staff were well educated, were well connected in the area, were trained in de-escalation and could help acutely suicidal individuals. If you have lost someone to suicide, you can see painfully and clearly why resources such as that are crucial. When funding ends, support ends, and so many are left without support, feeling that nobody cares about them. The doors of that incredible facility closed, and I fear that that sent the wrong message for some. It validated their feelings that they do not matter, and that is the last thing that we want. <BR /> <BR />CCIS was a de-escalation lifeline for the people of the north-west.”
“On a night out, when a vulnerable young person had, perhaps, had too many drinks or had taken a substance, this was a place where they were not shamed or judged. The facility was extremely well used. Other Members quoted statistics that speak to the fact that the community loved having that resource and was devastated, as was I, on a human level, that it had closed. <BR /> <BR />Our motion reaffirms a fundamental core value of the SDLP, which is a commitment to tackling the lack of mental health support in the North. Pádraig made a fantastic point about police time. If you speak to the police, so much of their time and effort goes into sitting in A&E. They know that that is not the most appropriate place for someone who is facing suicidality. The families of vulnerable individuals know that it is not the right place.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I will endeavour to cover as many Members' comments as I can in five minutes. <BR /> <BR />I had the privilege of visiting the community crisis intervention service in different locations over the past few years, and I had the chance to meet staff at different times. They were absolutely exceptional, and I got to see what an unbelievable resource it was and how well used it was. <BR /> <BR />One thing that I liked about it was that it was, at one point, open between 8.00 pm and 8.00 am. If somebody was facing a mental health crisis or having feelings of suicidality, the service offered a totally different and unique approach to best support them that was non-judgemental and was there at the point of need.”
“Today, it is important to be honest about where we are at and, more importantly, to be ambitious about where we can get to. Let us build a fit for purpose anti-poverty strategy that is shaped by lived experience, backed by appropriate funding and focused on outcomes. Every child deserves the same start in life and the power to shape their own future, rather than to be trapped by their circumstances. We had a number of young people here today. I am delighted that they could be present to be part of the discussion, because, ultimately, we are talking about them. The Executive hold the key to bringing about genuine change, but, Minister and Members, the draft strategy is nowhere near close to delivering for families and children right across the North.”
“Linda Dillon and Diane Forsythe touched on the importance of highlighting the challenges and needs of child carers in the North. Sian Mulholland talked about the importance of having an intersectional strategy that is adequately resourced; I agree. That is a difficult issue, because, in this Building, we sometimes see fantastic strategies on paper but do not see the resource put behind them to get measurable outcomes. Colm Gildernew reiterated the paramount need for there to be accountability in the strategy and the Committee's stance that child poverty is a choice. <BR /> <BR />If Budgets are moral documents, how we spend our money tells our children what we believe that they are worth. The cost of inaction is counted not just in pounds but in the lost potential — so much of it — of our young people.”
“— No, thank you — let alone be based on objective need? <BR /> <BR />What does "objective need" even mean here? The draft leaves it undefined, to be interpreted differently across different Departments. That is something that we talk about often: all political parties believe that cross-departmental engagement is a priority in the eradication of child poverty. It should not be just a Department for Communities issue. We need to see the Housing Executive and the Education, Health and Economy Departments play a role and all be on the same page. <BR /> <BR />I will address Members' comments. Cathy Mason rightly mentioned that children are not in control of their circumstances, and we often see two types of childhood, one defined by poverty and the other entirely free from it.”
“Hidden poverty is massive in our society, with working parents who fall between the cracks making just enough money to not be able to access certain benefits while struggling profusely to make ends meet. <BR /> <BR />Today, we must ask this: does the draft strategy truly meet need? Does it constitute a genuine, measurable plan of action, or is it simply a collection of worthy statements without the structure, targets or accountability that the law requires? The draft strategy lacks clear outcomes or milestones. Without those, how can it meet the statutory definition of a strategy —”
“That is backed by statistics. We feel strongly that a Northern Ireland child payment could do the same here. Parents also speak passionately about the cost of childcare, which pushes them out of work and study and reduces families' household income. That is why we need to reinforce the importance of truly accessible affordable childcare in the North that reflects real costs and supports parents and families to stay in employment. We on the Education Committee have often spoken about free school meals. The SDLP firmly believes that that scheme must be expanded so that no child sits in class hungry or is embarrassed about their family income.”
“No, thank you: you have had your time. <BR /> <BR />Without those things, it is not a strategy but merely a statement of good intent on paper. The Executive promised that eradicating child poverty would be a defining mission, yet the draft anti-poverty strategy falls short of what families urgently need. Those of us who were out in our communities and in our constituencies just before the school season know that it is about families who cannot afford new school shoes or to get a raincoat for their child or children. Santa is getting ready to come to town, and a lot of families are anxious about what Christmas Day will look like. Those families will be listening today, and they will demand answers. <BR /> <BR />We know what works. As was mentioned, we know that Scotland's child payment is lifting thousands of children out of poverty.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. Yes, I agree. I am sure that all of us, in our roles as MLAs or as individuals, have at some point been in homes where children struggle with poverty and lack of access to food, which is absolutely heartbreaking. We know that children who go to school on an empty stomach cannot focus in class as much as their peers who come from homes with a lot of wealth. It is important to note that. Child poverty is a choice: it is political-will choice and a policy choice. Our emphasis here is on the Executive's need to act. <BR /> <BR />Regional balance must mean equal opportunity for every child, not postcode inequality. The proposed anti-poverty strategy gives little cause for confidence that anything will change. We feel that strongly because there is no clear delivery timetable and no dedicated budget.”
“As a representative for the north-west, I note that the highest rates of child poverty are in areas in the north-west, with parts of my constituency falling into the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, while other areas, such as Belfast, have persistent deprivation. Families in the north-west are among those hardest hit by rising food and energy costs and, of course, by the impact of welfare reforms.”
“<BR /> <BR />A child born into poverty is more likely to fall behind at school. That is one of the driving factors that led the SDLP to introduce the Period Products (Free Provision) Act 2022 to provide free products to keep girls in the classroom and partaking in sport out on the pitch and to make sure that there are no barriers to education or extracurricular activities. Children in poverty are more likely to suffer poor mental and physical health and to struggle to find stable work as an adult. <BR /> <BR />Every piece of research tells us that investing early saves money later in life, but we are still firefighting the consequences of poverty rather than tackling the root cause. The figures that I mentioned are shocking, but they are not evenly spread.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to wind up the debate on this important motion. With one in five of our children living in absolute poverty, we are failing not just a statistic but an entire generation of young people in Northern Ireland. The latest Northern Ireland poverty and income inequality report, which is for 2023-24, confirmed that 21% of children living in the North are growing up in absolute poverty after housing costs. That is roughly 95,000 children — 95,000 young lives starting off from behind, through no fault of their own. In the SDLP, we know that poverty in childhood is not temporary. It sets the trajectory for health outcomes, and, as we have heard at the Education Committee, it impacts on educational attainment and access to life opportunities and job opportunities for years to come.”
“Minister, you said that the Arts Council can withhold funding. Are you are aware of any instances in which it has done so? Is it the case that those duties exist on paper only, with no real enforcement? What will your Department do to ensure that the Arts Council enforces its own standards?”
“Thank you, Minister, for giving way. Can you understand that some of us may be a bit perplexed when we talk about equality and the rights of girls to wear trousers and are told that that is already in place and that it is up to schools? That still leaves some schools where girls are allowed to wear trousers and other schools where they are not. How is it true equality, if every girl and every young woman in every school does not have that choice?”
“That is what families deserve, and what the Assembly should deliver. <BR /> <BR />If I were to grade you, Minister, it should have been an A*, but, today, you get a C-.”
“Without strong guidance, regular reporting and visible accountability, I fear that the Bill, while well-intentioned, could be somewhat ineffective. <BR /> <BR />Today, the SDLP will support the Bill, but let us be honest: it could have been braver. It could have delivered real accountability, real transparency and comfort, particularly for pupils who have special educational needs. As the Committee Chair rightly mentioned, until we see the guidelines, it is hard to know what things will look like moving forward. However, we, as a Committee, and we in the SDLP, will hold the Minister to his word when he says that the legislation will make a practical difference for families. We will continue pressing, inside and outside the Chamber, for policies that truly reflect fairness, inclusion and compassion.”
“Secondly, we ask the Minister to review the guidance within the first year of implementation in order to address the issues that we have discussed today, with matters such as inclusivity, gender neutrality and reasonable adjustments for children with special educational and sensory needs. Those are not add-ons but are central to what a fair uniform policy should mean. <BR /> <BR />At its best, a school uniform should remove barriers and should make every child feel equal, confident and part of their community and their classroom. When the cost of a uniform keeps a child at home, however, it becomes the very opposite of what it was meant to be. Families do not want speeches about affordability: they want to see prices fall, and that will depend entirely on how the Department enforces what is passed here today.”
“I was really disappointed that that was not highlighted here. Our young people expected the Bill to modernise our approach and not just tidy up the guidance. Today, I feel as though they have not been listened to. A disservice has been done here. For a Bill that promised to deliver fairness, we feel strongly that it leaves far too much discretion in schools' hands and, with respect, far too little accountability in the Minister's hands. <BR /> <BR />As the Bill passes today, the SDLP asks the Minister for clear commitments. First, we are asking that the Department collect and publish data on uniform costs every year, not every three years.”
“I thank the Member for his point and wholeheartedly agree. That speaks to the issue of equality and the things that the Bill could have done. I understand the Minister's position that this is ultimately about affordability, but it could have been so much more. As Pat mentioned, it should be about equality and access to education. Girls are going to have a different educational experience, compared with their male peers. We have been talking so much in the North recently about women's health and women's rights and what equality looks like, and this Bill could have done so much more. <BR /> <BR />The Committee heard from specialists such as Menstruation Matters about where the Bill could go and what it could do. When the SDLP introduced the Period Products (Free Provision) Bill, we heard feedback there.”
“I thank the Minister, and I take his point and understand his position. For me, however, this is about equality in all schools. It is about the rights of every young woman or girl at a particularly vulnerable time in their life, when they are starting puberty and managing periods for the first time. It does not go far enough, and I believe that making that mandatory is the way forward. The Committee heard from Menstruation Matters, and I got feedback from parents in my constituency office. Embarrassing moments happen, and periods are a part of life. I have to say, Minister, that this was a missed opportunity, and it was within your gift —.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is the Committee's duty to listen to the stakeholders that it engaged with and to put forward the needs and wants of our young people. We did a good job of that, and I feel frustrated, as do many members of the Committee. We wonder about the point of the Committee's level of engagement and of listening directly to young people. As the Committee Chair said earlier, what really resonated with us was that this was about comfort and, more importantly, period dignity. I reiterate that it is grossly unfair that, in the 21st century, young women and girls across the North cannot be afforded the same choice in the right to wear trousers. If I am being honest, I find that frankly absurd. Schools should be places of comfort and inclusion, not conformity for conformity's sake.”
“However, I cannot ignore the fact that the Bill has become watered-down through its passage to the Final Stage. At the earlier stages, Members across the House, including those of us who sit on the Education Committee, listened to hours and hours of debate and put forward constructive amendments that would have made the legislation stronger, more inclusive and more accountable. We engaged on a cross-party basis and had a lot of conversations about what we could do to make the Bill the best that it could be. Sadly, many of our amendments were withdrawn, ruled out or replaced. I particularly note the absence of any commitment to gender-neutral uniform options, which is a real missed opportunity.”
“<BR /> <BR />That said, the SDLP shares the Committee's sentiment that, ultimately, we want the Bill to lift the burden of the cost of school uniforms in order to help parents and families across the North. However, our support comes with real frustration, because what is before us today is a far slimmer, safer version of what it could have been. The Bill was introduced because we acknowledge that the average cost of preparing a child for school is close to £1,000. Pivotal, the public policy think tank, found that one in 10 schoolchildren in the North has missed school because they do not have the right kit. That is simply unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP will support the legislation today, as the principle is to make school uniforms more affordable and measure fairness into what, frankly, has been an unchecked system for far too long.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am not changing my name just yet. I am still a Hunter, which is very good. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to speak on the School Uniforms Bill. I have to be honest: I am disappointed that the Bill, in its current form, does not engage with issues specific to women and girls. Today, I am wearing a suit. I am wearing dark trousers, and I feel comfortable and confident: that is not a luxury; it is a right. I am sad that that right has not been extended in this case to women and girls of school age across the North. I am disappointed and disheartened that the Bill did not take the necessary steps that many members across the Committee wanted to see.”
“Minister, sea swimming is popular in my constituency from Portrush to Coleraine, Benone and beyond. We even have groups such as the Menopausal Mermaids and Salty Sea Sisters. What action are you taking to maintain areas that are used for bathing? Have you identified any parts of the North that do not have any and, if so, how we can improve things to have more?”
“I am in solidarity with you, Minister, following the mob at your house, last week. We are all thinking of you. <BR /> <BR />Following up on the previous questions, will the Minister confirm whether emotional support animals, particularly dogs, receive specific training before being placed in a prison? Do prison officers receive any kind of specific training regarding being assigned responsibility for caring for an animal?”
“I also offer my solidarity to the Minister and her colleague. No violence or threat of violence is ever acceptable towards elected reps. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for her update on late-night transport today. For many women in my constituency, when using late-night transport, they often say that they feel unsafe due to areas not being well lit. Will the Minister share with the House today some steps that her Department is taking, recognising the role that she can play in making areas better lit and making sure that women feel safe when using late-night transport?”
“It is unacceptable that that information is not being collected; indeed, it is unfathomable. We cannot allow bureaucratic delay, a lack of political will or poor record-keeping to stand between a suffering mother and the care that she and her baby so desperately need. Women who are already vulnerable and terrified should not be told to wait while the machinery grinds. <BR /> <BR />Every mother deserves to heal in the presence of their child. Every family deserves the certainty of knowing that, should a crisis strike or arise, there is a safe, specialist and compassionate place of care in our jurisdiction. There can be no more delay or excuses. We must deliver the regional mother-and-baby unit that mothers across the region so urgently deserve. We must take immediate steps to protect mothers and babies across the island.”
“Specialist mother-and-baby units have a strong evidence base. They improve clinical outcomes, reduce trauma and protect the mother-infant bond, which is so important. We know that such units save lives. <BR /> <BR />The issue also exposes a wider crisis in women's health in Northern Ireland. There is no reliable record of the number of women diagnosed with postpartum psychosis or admitted to psychiatric wards in the postpartum period. We really do not know how many mothers and babies have been separated. There is no record of severe adverse incidents (SAIs) relating to maternal mental health. Perhaps most shockingly, there is no reliable record of how many women die by suicide in the year after giving birth. Data collection is truly vital when seeking to adequately address sensitive issues such as the one that we are discussing.”
“Mothers in crisis must never face separation or inappropriate care while waiting for a permanent unit. One option that the Department should urgently consider is repurposing an existing empty ward as a temporary mother-and-baby unit. That option may not be perfect, but it would at least allow mothers and babies to remain together, which is so important. We have seen that done before in Exeter, where a temporary ward was successfully set up while a permanent mother-and-baby unit was being built and created. <BR /> <BR />Fourthly, we need cross-jurisdictional cooperation on these important matters. Mental illness respects no border. I urge the Minister of Health to coordinate with his counterpart in Dublin to ensure that, once established, the unit can serve mothers and babies across the island as needed.”