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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“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute a tribute to Pope Francis. I put on record my sadness and that of my constituents and those across the island following the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In my opinion, the late Pope Francis embodied everything that the world needs right now: the importance of seeking to understand each other, the importance of tolerance and the need to walk in each other's shoes and respect different religions and different cultures. Many, including me, feel strongly that Pope Francis breathed life into the Catholic Church. Pope Francis devoted his life to Christ and chose the name of Francis due to his love of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, who is known for his commitment to helping and uplifting the poor.”
“I think that NICVA summed up perfectly what now needs to take place: an immediate increase in core funding to at least match previous levels; a comprehensive review of the scheme's purpose and scope; the development of a new three-year funding programme that reflects the sector's essential role; clear criteria for grant allocation that recognises the organisational impact and sustainability in our communities; and long-term commitment to supporting voluntary sector infrastructure. It is great that we are having this conversation today. This task is not just for the Health Minister and at the Health Minister's feet. This is something for the whole Executive to really look at and address, because it requires a collective solution to what are ongoing problems in our communities.”
“It is absolutely devastating to read the 'Derry Now' article that states that Northlands will not be receiving core funding. The north-west is so filled with a sense of hopelessness and has a high level of deprivation, high levels of addiction and high rates of suicidality, and to hear that the funding has been pulled for the Northlands centre gives me more questions than answers. I wanted to put that on the record. <BR /> <BR />Where does that leave us?”
“The people who work in the community and voluntary sector are truly the backbone of our communities, and they have done that work for decades at a time with utmost dedication, care and professionalism. <BR /> <BR />On that note, I would really like to put on record my significant thanks to the Northlands centre in Derry for the incredible work that it does. It is the backbone of the north-west when it comes to providing support not only to people who are struggling with addiction of all kinds but to their families. Addiction really is a family disease. It impacts on your loved one, and it impacts on you as an extension of your loved one. The Northlands centre, for nearly 50 years now, has been helping people in my constituency as well as people from Foyle and from the wider west Tyrone area.”
“Let me be clear: the community and voluntary sector is absolutely essential to the delivery of strong healthcare in our communities. All of us see that at first hand in our constituencies. Whether in the field of mental health support, suicide prevention, support for our carers or disability services, we see hard work every day from staff in the sector. <BR /> <BR />Undermining the core grant scheme puts in severe jeopardy the ability of those organisations to deliver positive outcomes. It leaves their talented and caring staff and boards questioning their organisation's future viability and their position in it. It is a very stark and sad reality that we are facing. Many Members have mentioned the names of some people who work in those organisations. There are too many to mention.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to this important motion on behalf of the SDLP. It is an issue that has been discussed at length at the Health Committee. The number and scale of groups that have contacted us about their concerns, and the very real impact that such a loss of funding will have on their ability to operate, is truly shocking. Let us be under no illusions about the work that our great organisations in the community and voluntary sector do across our constituencies. They are doing the work that the statutory sector should be doing, plugging the gap that has been left by years of underinvestment and financial mismanagement in the Department of Health. The core grant scheme has funded those organisations for more than 20 years.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Given the Education Authority's recent policy change on the published admission number (PAN) and the impact of the standardisation programme, what action will the Department take to ensure transparency and fairness in preschool place allocations, particularly in rural areas such as my constituency?”
“Minister, understandably, those calls and emails caused a lot of stress and concern for parents. Does your Department feel, at the moment, that all our schools in Northern Ireland are adequately prepared for emergency situations, events or threats, and will you revisit the current protocols around that matter?”
“I am aware that MPs at Westminster are given a budget to avail themselves of mental health treatment. Will the Assembly Commission explore that option in the future?”
“I am sure that we can all welcome this incredible level of investment in the Roe Valley Resort. Minister, will you outline any further discussions that you have had with your counterparts in the South regarding tourism and looking at an all-island approach?”
“A key issue that is so often in my inbox and that I hear about in my office is the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I know that you were in DC for a number of days. Did you raise that directly with the US president or in wider discussions on your trip?”
“Illegal dumping is a severe issue, particularly in my rural constituency around the Drumsurn area. Minister, are the fines for those found guilty of illegal dumping adequate, or would you like to see them increased?”
“Unfortunately, there are many who seek to undermine the policy of Irish neutrality, and any move to dilute or end Irish neutrality without seeking the expressed will of the people would be scandalous and truly unforgivable. Irish neutrality is deeply rooted in public opinion owing to our historical experience of violence. <BR /> <BR />As the world looks ever more uncertain, we should remember how Ireland's policy of neutrality has served its people and how our experience of violent conflict should compel us pursue peace and sovereignty, not militarism and polarising alliances. I urge all in the House who have an interest in maintaining Irish neutrality and in protecting the triple lock to use their voice to do so and work to preserve Ireland as a beacon of light for all those in the world who continue to experience war and other issues.”
“St Patrick's Day, 17 March, was also an important day to contemplate the beauty and importance of our Christian faith and ideals, including non-violence and tolerance. Fast-forward to today, and we live in an uncertain world and in a period of accelerated and increased militarisation across the globe. It is important, now more than ever, that the people on this island remain steadfast in their support for peace and diplomacy. <BR /> <BR />It is the tradition of neutrality that enables the Irish Defence Forces, many of whom I have spoken with, particularly in our border communities, actively to engage in peace support operations, conflict resolution and disarmament initiatives, reinforcing their reputation as a trusted actor and proponent of peace and stability on the international stage.”
“that has overcome such violence and division to seek peace.”
“I rise acknowledging that many of us are not in politics for very long, so it is important to use our platform to speak up on what is right. I wish to use my platform to endorse the importance of Irish neutrality. <BR /> <BR />On St Patrick's Day, many people across our island revelled in joy and celebrated our shared history and culture. Millions around the world celebrated together. If only for one day, even Ian Paisley Jnr was Irish. I joke, Mr Speaker, but it is important to reflect on and recognise the strength and power of our story North and South and our island, which has been through so much on its journey to reconciliation and peacebuilding. We are the nation of céad míle fáilte”
“Early intervention is important in the prevention of sexual offences. The Minister will be aware of the recent show 'Adolescence', which touches on the complex issue of the radicalisation of young men online from harmful, misogynistic attitudes. Does she agree that that important show should be shown in schools? Will she commit to discussing the matter further with the Minister of Education in order to end violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland?”
“At the weekend, it took over 30 minutes to go between Greysteel and Ballykelly. Understandably, residents in the area want to see as much progress as possible on that road. Minister, can you give me more clarity on what the timeline would be to conduct a reassessment of the road?”
“I ask for that not to create hysteria but to make the safety, health and well-being of our children an absolute political priority.”
“As a result, the school had to step up its security and take further precautionary measures. <BR /> <BR />Our children in Northern Ireland deserve to feel safe. They deserve to experience education without there being any barrier to their safety. The mentality of those who threaten the safety of our children is absolutely unacceptable. We will not normalise that shameful and sinister behaviour. The perpetrators must be held accountable. <BR /> <BR />I put it on the record that, as politicians in this Building, none of us will tolerate such despicable threats of violence towards our primary schools and our children, who are young and vulnerable. My ask is for the Minister of Education and the Department to conduct an immediate safety and security review of all 1,074 schools in the North to ensure that all our children are safe.”
“I express my concern following the disgraceful threats to schools across Northern Ireland today: in Strabane, in Ballycastle and many in Enniskillen. Those threats have resulted in the closure of Holy Cross College in Strabane, Strabane Academy, Strabane Primary School, Cross and Passion College in Ballycastle, Enniskillen Integrated Primary School and more, leaving teachers, principals, staff and pupils absolutely terrified. That is totally unacceptable. Information so far this morning reveals that there have been bomb threats and unconfirmed messages circulating on social media alluding to weapons having been left at campuses in Northern Ireland. The security threats follow on from a primary school in Lurgan receiving an anonymous, concerning phone call on 7 March that alluded to child safety concerns.”
“First Minister, page 33 of the ending violence against women and girls strategy mentions creating a technology challenge fund to address digital violence towards women and girls online. Will you detail today how or if the funding mentioned in the Programme for Government will contribute to that?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. I welcome your commitment to tackling educational disadvantage in the North. On that matter, the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) has published research on educational disadvantage faced by children who have parents with addiction in the home. Can you detail to the House how you will engage with such groups to ensure that all kinds of educational disadvantage are acknowledged, no children are overlooked and all are supported by your Department?”
“It is vital that the public investment in sport delivers the maximum possible benefit for all the children and young people who are in my constituency.”
“Football clubs in and around the Coleraine area do a fantastic job. Some of them serve more than 200 children. It is pivotal that those clubs are allowed the appropriate access. Most notably, the long-established and successful Portrush Youths summer camp has been forced to cancel as a direct result of not having access to the pitches. Also, a charity match has not been able to go ahead. That stresses how important the matter is. That is not only a gross misuse of council facilities but a violation of the principles that underpin Sport NI's headline values, which say that everybody should have access to sport. <BR /> <BR />I urge the Minister for Communities to take note of the situation and to engage with those clubs and the council.”
“I am concerned that that will ultimately have an adverse impact on those whom we must support to get into sport. That includes children, young people, women and girls, disabled people, children with autism, the LGBT community and ethnic minorities, all of whom want to engage in sport. Two of the football clubs, East-End Football Club and Portrush Football Club Youths, have been unfairly prevented from accessing these facilities, despite their ongoing commitment to provide opportunities for our community and a safe space for children.”
“I ask the Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, to engage with the clubs in my constituency that lack access to efficient funding, changing facilities and, most importantly, pitches. Specifically, I am deeply troubled that publicly funded pitches in my constituency that are created to serve the broader community are instead reserved for just one 90-minute Coleraine and District match per week. That results in those vital facilities, which are intended to promote sport and physical activity for the whole community, being left overwhelmingly idle for the majority of the week. Restricting community access is detrimental to our young people who want to play football.”
“I thank some of the local football clubs in my constituency of East Derry. I will name just a few of them: the Heights Football Club; East-End Youth Football Club in Coleraine; and, of course, Portrush Football Club. Those clubs help hundreds of children to enjoy sport and get exercise, instil in them a sense of confidence and offer them positive male leadership and role models. Many of the clubs serve the most deprived wards in Northern Ireland, with over 250 children, and the coaches often pay out of their pocket to support them. Yet, the clubs cannot get adequate access to appropriate pitch facilities in their council area. <BR /> <BR />I am deeply concerned about the lack of access to football pitches in my area to serve the needs of those clubs.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. In an Education Committee meeting, one of the teachers' trade unions said that there is a growing fear that our schools are becoming exam factories. Will you reassure us today that that will be addressed in your curriculum reforms and that any changes will be subject to Executive agreement?”
“While SEN needs grow across the North, I am being contacted by parents, teachers and young people who are waiting up to four years for autism and ADHD assessments. What is the Minister's Department doing to quicken up these waiting lists?”
“Those women have witnessed their loved ones die or be wrongfully imprisoned. They have been left with no food to nourish their children. Pregnant women have been left without nourishment, water or hospitals and appropriate healthcare. I think of them today and every day. I think of their potential, the barriers to fulfilling that potential and the cowardice from the current and former UK and US Governments in not adequately speaking up for and supporting them. My hope is that we can all continue in our positions to platform the struggles of women in the North and globally to ensure that, one day, we are all equal.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also thank Women's Aid, Nexus, Rape Crisis NI and the sexual offences legal adviser (SOLA) team, which support women who are victims and survivors of rape and sexual harassment and assault. When we talk about accelerating action, we also need to create a society that adequately supports victims. Sadly, in the North of Ireland, less than 2% of rape cases result in a conviction: that is disgraceful. No one should fear the process of seeking justice for a sexual crime. In Northern Ireland, rape counselling notes can be used against victims in court, and I feel really strongly that that must change. <BR /> <BR />I dedicate my speech to the women and girls of Palestine, who have endured such unbelievable violence, trauma and agony over the past 513 days.”
“On that note, I thank the brave women around the Chamber such as Órlaithí Flynn and Kellie Armstrong, who have shared their stories of baby loss and miscarriage. I thank our very own East Derry woman Claire Sugden, who publicly spoke so eloquently about her journey with postpartum depression. I also thank Joanne Bunting for sharing her story of having breast cancer and for being so brave to speak about that. <BR /> <BR />Every day in here, we shout and yell at one another, but I sit with quiet admiration for many of the stories that are shared in this place. They are not only educating me but educating the public. I thank those ladies for their contributions and for coming forward and sharing their personal stories about their struggles. Their bravery is noted, and I thank them for it.”
“Its volunteers utilise every moment of their spare time to give back to the community. <BR /> <BR />I give particular thanks to a woman called Becca, who works for West Bann Development. She offers a safe, non-judgemental space for so many young girls and other young people to come and ask for help. <BR /> <BR />I thank Grainne in Feeny, who works at Destined, which is a group that does incredible work with adults with special educational needs in our rural communities, serving Feeny, Park, Dungiven and Claudy. <BR /> <BR />This year's theme is accelerating action to achieve gender equality and end bias. A huge part of that involves educating the public on female mental and physical health issues.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank Taylor-Rae Falconer for opening up about the difficult journey of female infertility, often a deeply personal event and issue, about which she shares so well online. <BR /> <BR />I thank Laura McNeilly for advocating harsher sentencing for paedophiles in Northern Ireland in order to keep the children in all our communities safe and for advocating changes to the law. <BR /> <BR />I thank our very own Lilian Seenoi-Barr, the current Mayor of Derry, for her advocacy and bravery after enduring horrific racist abuse online. She is just incredible. <BR /> <BR />I thank Val in Portrush, who works for Reach, which is a community support network that, to be honest, is driven by women. Reach focuses on tackling loneliness and helping the vulnerable.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank Selina from the White Butterfly Foundation, which is devoted to offering compassionate, personalised and professional psychological support to parents grieving the profound loss of miscarriage, baby loss and neonatal death, for sharing her own painful story and using it as a power to change the lives of others. <BR /> <BR />I thank Olivia McVeigh for being so open online about her struggles with the agony of endometriosis and for talking openly about her treatment for early menopause in her 20s and her journey with alopecia. It is so brave to tackle the stigma that often comes with those health issues. She is breaking down barriers so that other women who endure them feel seen and heard.”
“I too welcome Aoife to the Chamber. It is great to have another woman on board. You did very well today. <BR /> <BR />It is a pleasure to contribute to the debate, to celebrate the women in and around my constituency on International Women's Day and to share some of the uplifting things that they do to take care of the people in our communities in East Derry. Every day, across my constituency, women are brave, women are bold and women help others while struggling themselves and sharing their stories online. I will mention a few of those incredible women.”
“<BR /> <BR />As a proud east Derry woman, with family from west Tyrone, I have seen in my lifetime the acute need in the north-west from beginning to end. We hear that each and every day in our constituency offices. People are really struggling. This issue is undeniably linked to poverty and deprivation as well, as we are seeing that drug deaths are three times more likely in more-deprived areas. <BR /> <BR />I thank those who are here, including the Health Minister, for being here, for listening to our case and for trying to understand the complex nature of addiction and mental health in our communities and the urgent need to have a fully funded, purpose-built addiction support and resource centre.”
“As someone who was educated in America, I know that Americans are robust in educating young people about the fears of drugs, about drug deaths, what they look like and how common they are. They talk about statistics. We need to do a bit more of that. We do not do enough about how to consume alcohol and the impact that it has on the body. I am passionate about that. I have spoken to young people, and it seems that the education on alcohol has not changed much since I was at school, 12 years ago. Early intervention is key. <BR /> <BR />Drugs and alcohol can cost Northern Ireland up to £1 billion each year. Reports show that, at any one time, around 200 beds are being used by patients who have a drug- or alcohol-related issue.”
“It can contribute and lead to emotional dysregulation in young people, leading to a fear of conflict, a lack of self-esteem, hypervigilance and more. <BR /> <BR />Sadly, drugs are becoming more widely available, more readily available online, and the police can do only so much with the resources that are given to them. Therefore, we must ensure that the police force is given the necessary support to stop drugs from filtering in and ruining communities. <BR /> <BR />Drug use is often a result of trauma. It is important to raise the issue of mental health shortfalls. I would like to see more investment in our mental health strategy because it is nowhere near sufficient. We can do more when it comes to young people.”
“Every day, across the North, children with non-functioning alcoholic parents are attending school. As my party's education, children and young people's spokesperson, it is important that I touch on the issue of children who come from homes where parents or loved ones struggle with an addiction, and we are expecting them to get the same grades as children who come from safe, stable and happy homes. That is a societal issue, and it is important to include that. <BR /> <BR />As a society, with the struggles that we so often face with addiction, we do not support young people to an efficient standard. We do not support them efficiently in school, either. Having a parent who is an alcoholic or who struggles with drug addiction is noted as an adverse childhood experience, which I know that Members across the House care deeply about addressing.”
“I highlight the remarkable work of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA), which launched in 1990 in response to the large number of children of alcoholics who were without support. It is a fantastic organisation that really touches on the importance of supporting vulnerable young people every day and providing them with a non-judgemental safe space where they can talk about their parent who is struggling with an addiction. More locally, in Belfast, Al-Anon supports families of alcoholics. I will give a shout-out to Colette in the Belfast office, who is exceptional and has provided a lot of support to my constituents.”
“Absolutely. I thank the Member for his intervention. Judging by the constituents whom I have spoken to, people who have an addiction will often go to an A&E department but cannot get the support that they need because they have either drugs or alcohol in their system. They are pushed from pillar to post. They go to mental health services for support and are pushed back to addiction and vice versa. Undoubtedly, addiction impacts on entire families. It robs children of happy childhoods; it can lead to financial pressures in the home; and, sadly, as we saw when we had the discussion on ending violence against women and girls, it can be a huge contributor to domestic violence. <BR /> <BR />Across the North, support groups meet weekly to discuss addiction. No one should be afraid to step forward and engage on those matters.”
“Our motion focuses on the wrap-around support needed for those struggling with an addiction, such as employment, training and housing. Those are things that will help them to get back on track. Drug and alcohol addiction is, sadly, all around us. It interrupts lives and robs people of the best years of their life, as well as their success and their prosperity. It impacts not only on the individual as a patient but on entire families.”
“That could not be further from the truth. Addiction impacts all in our society, regardless of class, colour or creed. Some are better at hiding it than others. Work on policy issues such as addiction must be done on a cross-party, cross-community basis. That is key to highlighting to the public that health comes above politics and that we will always do our best to serve our constituents on issues that matter to them, such as addiction. <BR /> <BR />The motion could not have come at a better time. I was deeply saddened yesterday to find that the word "addiction" was not mentioned once in the Programme for Government. I feel that the House can come to a consensus on the issue and build on that to ensure that we give our constituents the right services to support them.”
“I record my particular thanks to Denis Bradley, who continues to advocate for the right services in the area for those who are struggling, recognising the complex nature of addiction, particularly in a post-conflict society such as ours, where many in our communities have dealt with complex trauma. There is an undeniable relationship between such trauma and addiction that often ends up being passed on to future generations. We must build on the great work being done by Northlands and build a fully funded, purpose-built addiction and recovery centre in the north-west. Cross-border collaboration is key on the issue, and I welcome the fact that recent PEACE PLUS funding has recognised the needs of those struggling with an addiction in our border areas. <BR /> <BR />Addiction is, sadly and wrongly, often perceived as a class-based issue.”
“Between 2018 and 2022, the rate of drug deaths here was over three times higher in Northern Ireland's most deprived areas than in wealthy areas. Deaths due to drug-related causes have increased by 98% since 2012, and, between 2018 and 2022, over 40% of drug misuse deaths occurred in NI's most deprived areas. Today, therefore, I will also touch on the link between poverty and drug deaths. <BR /> <BR />The north-west has an acute need when it comes to addiction, going from my constituency of East Derry to Foyle and wider west Tyrone. I will begin by thanking those who founded the Northlands centre in Derry and all its staff, past and present, who have done exceptional and remarkable work in supporting my constituents and those of others beside me across the north-west.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to propose our motion in recognition of how much pain addiction causes in our communities across the North, focusing in particular today on the north-west. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister of Health for being here. I thank his predecessor as Health Minister, Robin Swann, who brought forward the drugs and alcohol strategy. In a previous role, I was the chair of the all-party group (APG) on addiction and dual diagnosis, and I greatly appreciated his attendance at that time and his efforts when I sat on the Health Committee. <BR /> <BR />I will run through a few statistics. In 2022, the latest year for which statistics are available, Northern Ireland had the joint highest rate in the UK of deaths from diseases caused by alcohol.”
“It is on each of us to promote second-hand uniform sales, whether that is through school initiatives, parent groups or charity shops. <BR /> <BR />Uniforms should foster pride, discipline and a sense of belonging but not at the price of the financial hardship that is often faced by parents. We need change. By making school uniforms more affordable, inclusive and practical, we can ensure that no child is unfairly disadvantaged. I welcome the fact that we are working together. The SDLP will support the Bill at Second Stage so that, when it comes to school uniforms, we ensure fairness and allow for choice and, most important, affordability.”
“<BR /> <BR />If an increasing number of families struggle to put food on the table and heat their home, where will they find the extra £90 for a school blazer or £100 for a PE kit that will likely be worn only once a week? Schools have told us that some parents are not sending their children to school at the start of term simply because they cannot afford a school uniform. Essentially, that is a failure by us, and we can do more, which is why I am glad that we are debating the issue today. It is time to make school uniforms more affordable, practical and inclusive. Today's discussion is a strong step in the right direction. We need to implement a fairer system. Our schools must be required to regularly review the cost of uniforms and look at the tendering process for suppliers.”