Nicola Brogan
West Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Rinne muid Lá Idirnáisiúnta an Aistriúcháin a cheiliúradh an mhí seo a chuaigh thart. Tugtar seans dúinn an lá sin leis an obair thábhachtach, fhiúntach a dhéanann fir agus mná teanga ar fud an domhain a cheiliúradh.”
“Tugann sé seans do na daoine a bhfuil na teangacha sin acu a gcuid a bheith acu den tsaol anseo agus a bhuíochas sin ar na haistritheoirí agus na hateangairí.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mar sin de, a Cheann Comhairle, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na haistritheoirí agus na hateangairí uile go léir, bíodh siad ag obair in institiúidí polaitíochta nó amuigh fríd na daoine sna hotharlanna agus sna cúirteanna.”
“<BR /> <BR />Despite an extremely tight budget that continues to be stripped to the bone by consecutive British Governments, investment in waste water infrastructure is continuing. NI Water is getting 90% of the capital money that it could spend this year, which is an increase from last year.”
“The appeal has been supported by the AERA Minister and is due to be heard this December. <BR /> <BR />I have said this before and will say it again: we need to continue to work together to ensure that the A5 is delivered.”
“Minister Kimmins and her predecessor, Minister O'Dowd, have fought tooth and nail for the progression of the A5 road upgrade. As a representative of West Tyrone and someone who uses the road daily, I appreciate the Minister's commitment to that vital project.”
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“<BR /> <BR />Mar sin de, a Cheann Comhairle, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na haistritheoirí agus na hateangairí uile go léir, bíodh siad ag obair in institiúidí polaitíochta nó amuigh fríd na daoine sna hotharlanna agus sna cúirteanna. Is annamh a théann a luach orthu, ach tá sé ar shlí a ráite nach mbeadh teacht againn gan iad.”
“Tugann sé seans do na daoine a bhfuil na teangacha sin acu a gcuid a bheith acu den tsaol anseo agus a bhuíochas sin ar na haistritheoirí agus na hateangairí. <BR /> <BR />Tá an t-ádh orainn go bhfuil aistritheoirí agus ateangairí sa Tionól seo, go díreach mar atá sa Dáil, sa Senedd sa Bhreatain Bheag agus sna céadta eile Parlaimintí ar fud na cruinne. An áit a mbíonn an t-aistriúchán, bíonn faill ag polaiteoirí óráidí a thabhairt nó ceisteanna a chur sa teanga is fearr a oireann dóibh. Neartaíonn an áis sin an díospóireacht agus, dá bharr sin, an daonlathas. Mholfainn do Chomhalta ar bith anseo a chuid Gaeilge a chur chun a caite oiread agus is féidir agus tairbhe a bhaint as an tseirbhís atá againn.”
“Rinne muid Lá Idirnáisiúnta an Aistriúcháin a cheiliúradh an mhí seo a chuaigh thart. Tugtar seans dúinn an lá sin leis an obair thábhachtach, fhiúntach a dhéanann fir agus mná teanga ar fud an domhain a cheiliúradh. <BR /> <BR />Nuair a dhéantar teanga amháin a aistriú go teanga eile, cuirtear leis an chumarsáid idir daoine, cuirtear leis an tuigbheáil atá againn dá chéile, cuirtear leis an tsíocháin agus cuirtear leis an chomhar agus leis an dáimh atá againn le chéile. <BR /> <BR />Ní bagairt teanga. Is cuma cén teanga í. Má deirtear nó má scríobhtar friotal as Béarla agus sin a aistriú go Gaeilge, go hUltais nó go ceann de na teangacha nua ar an oileán seo, an Úcráinis nó an Araibis, ní bhíonn duine ar bith thíos leis. A mhalairt atá amhlaidh: is fearrde dúinn é.”
“The Minister will know that the all-Ireland fleadh is coming to Belfast next year. Will he outline what discussions he has had with the Arts Council about potential funding programmes for the bands that take part?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. In the South, our Opposition actually bring solutions to the table, whereas I have not seen any from the SDLP in the North.”
“Just yesterday, as mentioned, the House heard of over 20 pieces of legislation that the Executive intend to introduce and progress in the 2025-26 session. For projects that continue to face inexcusable delays, such as Casement Park and the investment strategy, it is for those Ministers and those parties to explain why they are being delayed. Sinn Féin Ministers have their heads down, doing the work and delivering for families and communities right across the North.”
“<BR /> <BR />Despite an extremely tight budget that continues to be stripped to the bone by consecutive British Governments, investment in waste water infrastructure is continuing. NI Water is getting 90% of the capital money that it could spend this year, which is an increase from last year. Meanwhile, as mentioned yesterday, the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill continues to progress. It is an important aspect of the Minister's three-pronged approach to addressing issues around waste water infrastructure and how we will live with water in the future. It will integrate innovative and sustainable drainage solutions in housing developments and provide grants for measures to protect domestic buildings from flooding. <BR /> <BR />That is not to say that improvements cannot be made. Of course they can.”
“The appeal has been supported by the AERA Minister and is due to be heard this December. <BR /> <BR />I have said this before and will say it again: we need to continue to work together to ensure that the A5 is delivered. It is far too important for the families and communities that have lost loved ones on the road, and it is too important for all of us who use the road and understand the dangers of it, not to work together to see it upgraded. <BR /> <BR />The all-island rail review, by its very nature, requires agreement and planning, North and South, at every step, but it continues to meet milestones. The European Investment Bank has been working with Minister Kimmins and the Dublin Government on a prioritisation strategy, and the Minister has announced that a progress report will be published in the autumn.”
“Minister Kimmins and her predecessor, Minister O'Dowd, have fought tooth and nail for the progression of the A5 road upgrade. As a representative of West Tyrone and someone who uses the road daily, I appreciate the Minister's commitment to that vital project. The proposer of the motion knows that the reason for the delay to the A5 is continued legal challenges and objections by a minority. Quite frankly, political point-scoring on such an important issue is dangerous. We should all agree that no price can be placed on saving lives. <BR /> <BR />Minister Kimmins has engaged extensively with local communities and has addressed every reasonable concern that objectors have raised. The Minister has also lodged an appeal to the court judgement on the development of the A5.”
“While we all wish that progress was faster, the fact is that most of the projects outlined in the motion are moving forward. It would be lovely if we could simply snap our fingers and produce major infrastructure developments out of thin air, but the reality is that projects of that scale and importance require careful planning, detailed scrutiny and significant funding. That is proper, responsible governance, and while it can, at times, be frustrating, the fact is that Sinn Féin Ministers are delivering on their promises.”
“The new and additional powers outlined in the ports Bill will allow Belfast harbour and other harbours to grow while maintaining appropriate safeguards so that the Department can ensure that ports are efficient and competitive while still operating in the public interest. <BR /> <BR />There is a lot of work ahead of us. With this ambitious programme to work through, it is crucial that we do not become complacent. We must continue to listen to the concerns of our constituents and forge ahead with additional projects and legislation that will support workers, families and communities.”
“That forms part of Minister Kimmins's three-pronged to tackling water infrastructure issues across the North. It will integrate innovative and sustainable drainage solutions into housing developments and provide grants for measures to protect domestic buildings from flooding. <BR /> <BR />I am particularly pleased to see the ports Bill in the legislative programme. That has been the subject of significant work by Ministers Liz Kimmins and Caoimhe Archibald. They recently met representatives of Belfast harbour on the subject, and the general feeling is that the proposed changes are urgently needed if our ports and harbours are to remain competitive. The work and operation of ports have changed over the years, and they now face additional costs, such as high supply-chain inflation and the requirement to decarbonise.”
“I am pleased to welcome the legislative programme from the Executive Committee. It is an ambitious body of work for the session and one that I am sure that we are all eager to get our teeth into. As a member of the Communities and Infrastructure Committees, I am glad to see several pieces of legislation come our way that will be warmly welcomed and will require detailed and careful scrutiny in each Committee. In addition to the Bills in the Executive Committee programme, we are already working on several other Bills, such as the Sign Language Bill, which the Communities Committee is scrutinising. That Bill will give long-overdue support and recognition to our deaf community. We also have the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill, which the Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, introduced.”
“<BR /> <BR />That is not to say that doing any of that will be easy, but if we ensure that the steps that we take are founded on just transition principles, we can ensure energy safety, security and prosperity for generations to come, as well as benefit from the effects of having cleaner air, soil and water that accompany making such changes. Housing has a huge role to play, so there is an immense responsibility on the Minister for Communities to seize the opportunity and begin laying the groundwork to make homes safer, warmer and more affordable.”
“Retrofitting will not only make our homes warmer but reduce energy costs. Moving to new ways of heating our homes, such as the use of heat pumps, will reduce our reliance on multinationals. Transitioning to renewable forms of energy production will free us from the volatility of the fossil fuel market. Embracing Ireland's abundant natural resources, such as wind and wave energy, can help reduce our reliance on imports. The shift to renewables can also open new avenues of economic opportunity for us, such as through the development of new, renewable technologies, which is something that we are already seeing happen as Ireland becomes an industry leader in areas such as zero-emission vehicles and wind energy.”
“That is shocking and completely unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />Greater extremes of drought and flooding put more pressure on the family home, with, for example, insurance prices in flood-prone areas adding to the ever-mounting costs that people must pay in order to keep a roof over their head. People are paying more to be less comfortable and less secure in their own homes. That is why the steps proposed in various climate action plans are important. It is not just about reducing emissions, although doing so would help stabilise the extremes of climate change. As the producer of up to 14% of the North's total greenhouse gas emissions, housing can play a vital role in our fight. <BR /> <BR />The actions we take to reduce emissions will have other positive effects and open up new avenues of opportunity.”
“The issues of housing, fuel poverty, energy costs and climate change are all deeply interconnected. That is why it is so important that the overarching, cross-departmental Climate Change Act was created. The truth is that there are very few issues here that are not in some way affected by climate change. Climate change is perhaps felt nowhere more acutely than in the home. Hotter summers and colder winters mean that older housing stock is simply not suitable for the current climate, with such houses requiring more heat in order to keep them warm. Energy producers are fully aware of that, yet they have been consistently increasing the cost of energy for years now, despite their record profits and huge windfalls. That has led to shameful situations in which low-income families and pensioners are having to choose between eating and heating.”
“The Minister will know that it is not just about one family. Many families have been victims of racist and sectarian intimidation. Has he held regular meetings with the Housing Executive about those families? Has he personally met any of the families affected by intimidation?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. As he will know, I am a representative of Omagh. This is, obviously, concerning for our poultry farmers and farmers across the constituency, so I am glad to see that swift action has been taken. <BR /> <BR />The Minister mentioned two temporary control zones: one of 3 kilometres and one of 10 kilometres. Diseases do not understand borders, so I am glad that the Minister is working with his counterparts in the South on this. Are the temporary control zones still in effect since Sunday? How long will they be in place?”
“<BR /> <BR />I again urge the Department of Education and all relevant stakeholders to work together and to make the necessary changes so that children can attend the school safely and residents do not face that level of disruption on a daily basis. The council recently invited the Education Minister to St Conor's to see for himself the disruption that is faced there daily. Unfortunately, he has been unable to attend so far, but I again extend an invitation to him to come to the constituency and see for himself the risks that are involved.”
“It is obviously a serious concern for parents too, who worry about the safety of their children going to and from school. The school leadership has worked incredibly hard over a number of years to find a solution to the issue and to ensure that pupils are safe. It has worked alongside Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, local residents and local elected representatives to highlight the serious risks that are associated with the issue to the Department of Education, the Education Authority (EA) and DFI and to urge all involved to find a solution quickly. It is my understanding that the council and the school have identified a suitable area of land that the Department of Education can develop into a safe space for parents to drop off and pick up children from St Conor's.”
“St Conor's is an excellent, thriving primary school, with a bustling school community of around 450 pupils. It is located between two very busy through roads that are used by many drivers to bypass Omagh town, causing increased traffic. Both roads are lined with housing developments that have hundreds of residential properties. There is huge disruption in the morning and afternoon when parents drop off and pick up children. Many parents end up parking at the side of the road, blocking other road users and even blocking access to some homes. <BR /> <BR />The issue has been ongoing for some years and has been a matter of great frustration and worry for the school leadership, staff and local residents, who are impacted on by the huge volume of traffic in the area.”
“I take the opportunity this morning to raise the very serious issue of inadequate car parking and drop-off points and facilities at St Conor's Primary School in Omagh and to urge the Education Minister to support the school in its efforts to resolve the matter. The issue is causing serious safety concerns in the area, particularly for the safety of schoolchildren attending the primary school but also for local residents and pedestrians in the area.”
“In keeping with the previous debate, will the Minister outline how he will ensure that regional balance is factored into the scheme so that everyone across the North can benefit from it?”
“The Committee will continue to scrutinise Minister Lyons on the matter. Given the recent announcement of other sporting and cultural funds from the Department for Communities, I again remind the Minister of the regional balance obligations that his party signed up to as part of the Programme for Government. <BR /> <BR />For a long time, communities in the west just had to accept that, when it came to investment, all that they were going to get was scraps from the table. Times have changed, however, and we will no longer accept that. Sinn Féin is committed to equality, and regional balance is a crucial part of that commitment. That is why our representatives will continue to fight for marginalised communities all over Ireland.”
“In addition to that, Minister Liz Kimmins has been fighting tooth and nail to ensure the delivery of the A5, which not only represents a massive investment in Counties Tyrone, Derry and Donegal but is a vital piece of national infrastructure that will have significant investment, economic and, most importantly, safety benefits for communities in the north-west of Ireland. Minister Kimmins also announced recently that the A32 Cornamuck project is to progress to the procurement and construction stage. That is an important road for people in my constituency who travel between Omagh and Enniskillen, particularly those trying to reach the South West Acute Hospital. <BR /> <BR />As a member of the Committee for Communities, I share the motion's concerns about the distribution of the football fund.”
“Minister Archibald is carrying on the work of her predecessor, Conor Murphy, who made regional balance one of the four pillars of his Department, and she has built on that foundation, not just with words but with a £45 million regional balance fund that will benefit every council area across the North.”
“As a representative for West Tyrone, I am very aware of the damaging effects that regional imbalance has had on services, infrastructure and communities west of the Bann. For generations, indifferent British Governments and Stormont regimes have starved the west of resources and infrastructure, but that tide is turning. Sinn Féin Ministers have made undoing the damage of regional imbalance a key focus of their delivery. As First Minister, Michelle O'Neill ensured that regional balance was a Programme for Government commitment for the Executive.”
“for his statement. I am sure that the Minister agrees that the principle of co-design and co-production with the disabled community is essential if we are to have a strategy that is fit for purpose and supported across the board. Will the Minister confirm whether the co-design group has been involved in that part of the process in the past weeks and whether it has seen the draft strategy?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, but to hear that 3,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment is really stark, and it puts such stress on lots of families. Will the Minister give an indication of how autism assessment waiting lists in the Western Trust compare with those in the other trusts in the North? Will he outline what he is doing to ensure that children and adults in West Tyrone and the Western Trust are treated fairly?”
“Is the deputy First Minister able to provide an update on a memorial to victims and survivors?”
“Last week, at the Communities Committee, departmental officials mentioned that the Minister is seeking additional and alternative funding for the football fund. Can the Minister confirm whether he is seeking additional and alternative funding for other sports or projects, or is it just the football fund that he is seeking those funds for?”
“Will the Minister please outline what data protection training his staff have to avoid this type of data breach incident?”
“I urge those who are leading the campaign of objection to the project to examine their conscience and ask themselves whether denying their family, friends and neighbours a major infrastructure, economic and safety investment is really the legacy that they want to leave. Enough time has been wasted and enough lives lost. Enough is enough. Let us work together to get the A5 built.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important to remember that, with every objection and every delay and every time that the Assembly fails to get behind the Minister's efforts to push the project forward, more lives are put in danger. Minister Kimmins deserves recognition for her refusal to give up on the north-west and the A5. The appeal that she has lodged is further proof of her commitment to the project and of her determination to see it through. I also commend Minister Muir for his efforts in supporting the appeal and for demonstrating meaningful and tangible support for the project. <BR /> <BR />Every effort has been made to ensure that the A5 western transport corridor scheme meets the most stringent requirements. All legitimate concerns have been heard, and every effort has been made to address them.”
“Last week, I spoke of the 57 lives that had been lost on the road since 2006. It is important to remember that that is not just a number or a statistic but 57 grieving families, 57 groups of friends, 57 sets of neighbours and 57 communities that have been torn apart by the loss of each loved one. I again pay tribute to the families who have been bereaved as a result of collisions on the A5. They have shown great dignity, strength and patience throughout the entire process despite the obvious hurt and pain that they are carrying. I also thank Tyrone GAA's A5 — Enough Is Enough campaign group for its tireless work and for its steadfast commitment to ensuring that the road is delivered.”
“<BR /> <BR />The A5 represents a £1·6 billion investment in a part of the country that has suffered from historical underinvestment and lack of critical infrastructure. By significantly reducing travel time to and from the capital, the A5 will open up the north-west for more investment, increased trade, faster commuting and more tourism; promote job creation and regional balance; and improve access to ports, airports and regional gateways. <BR />As I have said in here many times, however, the most important reason for having the A5 scheme is that it will save lives. As someone from Omagh, which is right at the heart of the A5, and having witnessed the devastation that the road has caused to our communities, I am passionate about the issue. I have spoken multiple times in the Chamber about the need for the A5 to be upgraded.”
“I will speak in support of the A5 and of the amendment that my party colleagues and I have tabled. I am really disappointed by the original motion and the obvious political intent behind it. Anyone here with any real understanding of the devastation that the road has brought to so many families and communities across West Tyrone and across Ireland will know that it is a really serious issue. The A5 is not a political football to be kicked around for cheap political point-scoring. To be honest, if certain Members really wanted to see the road progress, they would get behind the Minister's efforts in the appeal and all the efforts that we are making to ensure that the road is progressed, instead of drafting hollow motions, such as the one we see before us.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“The introduction of grants for measures to protect domestic buildings against flooding may even help to reduce the cost of insurance in flood-prone areas. <BR /> <BR />This is a sensible Bill, providing real, tangible protections for our waste water system, our environment and our people as well as providing numerous other knock-on cross-cutting benefits. I am happy to support the Bill, and I hope that other Members will do so too.”
“while the Bill will have a positive effect on our ability to deal with waste water and flooding, I will take a moment to address some of the other, broader cross-cutting effects that it will have. Reducing the strain on our existing waste water infrastructure will free up capacity for expanding the water network, allowing for more connections and, therefore, the building of more badly needed homes. Sustainable drainage systems will help to reduce waste water going into the system after flooding or heavy rains, which often result in the discharge of excess waste water into waterways such as Lough Neagh. Yesterday, the House debated the need for improved road maintenance. Excess flooding and poor drainage are among the primary causes of erosion and the deterioration of our road network, particularly our rural roads.”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, the introduction of temporary hosepipe bans comes with specific criteria and measures for informing the public and ensuring that bans are employed only in the most serious circumstances. <BR /> <BR />A chairde,”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill's key component is the introduction of the flood protection grants for domestic buildings, which will help provide peace of mind and practical support for people who are living in high-flood-risk areas. Helping people to protect their home is one of the most fundamental duties of government, and it is very welcome that the Minister has made that the centrepiece of her Bill. <BR /> <BR />The introduction of sustainable drainage systems is a creative addition that will provide low-maintenance, sustainable and practical support for dealing with excess waste water and is one that can be blended into the surroundings without causing an eyesore.”
“I join other Members in welcoming Peter Martin as the new Chair of the Infrastructure Committee. I am sure that we will continue to work constructively together as a Committee. I also send my very best wishes to Deborah and her family as they embark on a whole new adventure. <BR /> <BR />While the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill might not sound exciting, it is crucial to the development and maintenance of vital infrastructure and will have numerous cross-cutting benefits. It is further proof of the Minister's commitment to improve protections for citizens while maintaining crucial services here despite the British Government's repeated assaults on the already stretched Budget.”
“Will the Minister outline what he and his Department will do to make sure that the fund is promoted so that all sports clubs and community groups are able to access it?”
“Let us work together to get the A5 scheme delivered.”
“The upgrade of the A5 road can bring that dreadful toll to a halt and ensure that we do not see another 57 names added over the next 20 years. The proof of that is in the upgrade of the A4. <BR /> <BR />Every day that the A5 project is delayed is another day in which lives are needlessly put at risk. We have had 18 years of consultation, discussion and development, and every concern has been addressed. Is leor é sin.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is frustrating for many of us who are interested in protecting our environment to know that the Climate Change Act 2022, which was intended to safeguard our children's futures, has been misused in such a cynical and selfish manner by some. I remind those who, for their own reasons, are opposed to the A5 scheme that it is not just a major infrastructure development with the potential to open up the north-west to more investment, increased trade, faster commuting, more tourism and more jobs but, first and foremost, a safety upgrade. It is literally a matter of life and death. Fifty-seven people have lost their lives on the road since 2006. That is 57 neighbours, 57 friends, 57 members of our communities and 57 grieving families.”
“It gives me no pleasure to be back here after the summer recess once again to raise the issue of delays to the upgrade of the A5 road, but it remains one of the number-one concerns in my constituency. First, I greatly appreciate the efforts of Ministers John O'Dowd and Liz Kimmins, who have worked tirelessly to push forward the A5 project. Minister Kimmins continues in her efforts to get it over the line. As a representative for West Tyrone, I am deeply disappointed and frustrated that a small number of people with vested interests continue to make every effort to ruin a road development project: a project that would be of great benefit not only to the people of my constituency but to the entire island.”
“We are all aware of the importance of that road project and of how it will encourage economic development in the west, reduce journey times and, most importantly, save lives. Once again, on behalf of the people of West Tyrone, I encourage everyone to work together to make sure that the A5 is upgraded with no further delays. A modern, reliable and well-maintained road network is not only vital for ensuring safe and swift travel but crucial for economic development, particularly in rural areas, as well as for increasing tourism, improving public transport, tackling social isolation, reducing liability costs and meeting our climate targets. <BR /> <BR />I commend the motion to the House, and I have no doubt that the Minister is well on her way to fulfilling it.”