Stephen Dunne
North Down · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does the Minister recognise that the delays are causing a lot of stress to current officers and those who have served in the past and are impacting on the morale of current officers? What level of engagement has she had on the issue in the past, and what are her plans, in that regard, for the future?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. With approximately 15% of the entire Waterways Ireland estate located in Northern Ireland, I am keen to establish any detail that you may have on the scale of immediate safety risks, with regard to diseased trees in Northern Ireland specifically, that are linked to the tree management strategy, whic…”
“All the trust ports support the legislation, as was reflected in the responses to the consultation carried out last year on this important issue. It is also worth noting that trust ports in the rest of the United Kingdom — in Scotland, England and Wales — have been reclassified with no issues.”
“I am pleased to speak in the Second Stage debate on the Harbours Bill. As a member of the Committee for Infrastructure, I support the Bill's general intention, which, ultimately, is to provide all the trust ports in Northern Ireland with greater commercial flexibility. The trust ports are a key part of our local economy.”
“More than 20,000 people are employed in the harbour estates alone, and the harbours support over 15% of our country's total annual output. We can see the developments taking place at the D3 cruise terminal at Belfast harbour through the work that is going on there.”
“That should be the focus for all of us, and something that we can support and get behind. There is no doubt that all our trust ports already deliver significant economic and social benefits, but they are telling us that they can do more, want to do more and are willing to do more.”
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“<BR /> <BR />We welcome the review that the UK Government are undertaking and believe that local people deserve to have their say and to share their experiences in that process. I recognise that, in response to questions for written answer on the topic, the Minister has stated and repeated today that there is a role for the Department of Health and that it is a cross-cutting issue for a number of Departments. There is an Executive-wide place and space for making change. There is no doubt that reclassification would be a positive step forward. It is something that we can all get behind. I welcome the fact that, as the Justice Minister stated, she and the Health Minister wrote to the UK Home Office. That is certainly positive. The Executive have a Programme for Government commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.”
“They are a timely reminder to us all, bringing home the devastation and destruction that drugs can cause. I reference young people in particular, as the latest government figures show that drug use among 16- to 24-year-olds has tripled since 2016. That is, again, a very startling statistic indeed. As Members across the Chamber said, the relatively low cost of ketamine is a major concern, combined with the false perception that it may be less harmful than similar drugs. That has no doubt contributed to the startling rise in its use in our communities. I think that Members mentioned that, such is the widespread use of drugs, it happens not just in city centres but in urban and rural areas and that it is no respecter of class or colour.”
“That should shock us all. It is certainly a reminder of the gravity of the situation and of the fact that there is still so much more work to be done. <BR /> <BR />Many young people throughout the British Isles are suffering from severe bowel health issues, which were mentioned, and various medical issues, but they would be perfectly healthy if they were not regular ketamine users and had never taken that first dose of the drug. They may have thought that it was a casual thing to do, or they may have done it through peer pressure or one of the many other ways in which people can, sadly, become addicts and have their life changed and ruined forever. I have read some shocking personal stories from users of the drug. My colleague Ms Bunting outlined some of those personal stories.”
“<BR /> <BR />Sadly, the Larmour family is just one of many families right across Northern Ireland who have had their life shattered by the devastating effects of ketamine and so many other drugs, some of which have been mentioned here. Too many families right across our country continue to face that devastation, day and daily, right throughout the year. Figures that I acquired recently from the Department of Finance show, interestingly, that ketamine was mentioned on the death certificate of 12 people between January 2020 and June 2024, with an alarming jump from one ketamine-related death in 2022 to five in 2023 and three within the first six months of 2024. It is worth noting that last week's figures issued by NISRA show a worrying increase of nearly 50% in drug-related deaths in Northern Ireland over the past decade.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will conclude what has been a very useful and timely debate on such an important issue. I thank everyone for their contribution and the Minister for her attendance. I join others in commending the Larmour family for their tireless and courageous efforts on their important campaign. Sandra has fought with great dignity indeed to raise awareness of the dangers of ketamine and to seek its reclassification following the tragic and untimely passing of her daughter, Jeni. Her campaign is a powerful reminder that behind every statistic, policy debate and legislative decision are real people, families and heartache in every corner of our country.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement earlier. I am keen to hear the time frame, if indeed there is one, for the outworkings of the working group on wider reform, which Judge Burgess is chairing. Does the Minister feel on reflection that she could have done anything differently to avoid the delays that we now have in our justice system?”
“I thank the Minister for bringing the statement to the House. It mentions good work on the road safety strategy. Will she advise when her Department will publish its road safety action plan for 2025-26? The scale of the issues on our roads is very great, and, sadly, we have seen 139 people lose their life on our roads in the past two years.”
“I thank the Minister for his positive answer. We certainly look forward to that. As he said, the rationale for closing the Bangor and Ards MIUs was that the urgent care centre was coming. Can you assure my constituents that there will be no further delays to the opening of this much-needed facility, given the pressures around the corner in the emergency department, of which you are well aware, as well as the public's frustrations about access to GPs?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. There is a lot of positive feedback in the review report. In my local area, the 20 mph zones have been well received by parents and school staff. I will press the Minister on time frames. Is she confident that the scheme will be rolled out further in the incoming financial year?”
“Given the severe impact of the water capacity crisis on domestic and commercial development, and our ever-growing housing waiting lists, what innovative engineering solutions are being considered? Is best practice across the world being fully explored to try to solve the crisis, which is not new?”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, I pay tribute to the many hard-working staff — doctors, nurses and volunteers — who keep Marie Curie's work going all year round, including in the Marie Curie hospice facility. I make a special mention of Marie Curie's North Down fundraising group, which works tirelessly to raise funds across the year.”
“I have always been heartened to hear the stories behind every donation and the various ways that Marie Curie has brought comfort, hope and compassionate end-of-life care and support to families during some of their darkest moments. <BR /> <BR />I hope that today will be a reminder that more could be done to support those at the end of their life and their loved ones. We as an Assembly should commit to working to remove any remaining barriers, and there should rightly be a focus on strategic outcomes and approaches to palliative end-of-life care. It is welcome to see death, dying and bereavement in the Programme for Government. That is important progress, given that almost 4,000 people still miss out on vital end-of-life care in Northern Ireland.”
“Alarmingly, every five minutes in our United Kingdom, someone dies without the end-of-life care that they so desperately need. Those statistics should alarm us all. In Northern Ireland, it is estimated that 90% of people would benefit from a palliative care approach before they pass away. Unfortunately, too many still face barriers and challenges in accessing support when they so greatly need it. <BR /> <BR />I have had the privilege of collecting for the charity on a number of occasions, and I look forward to doing so again. I have always been amazed by the kindness and generosity of people across the country for this great cause. I thank the public of Northern Ireland, who get behind Marie Curie every month of the year but particularly in March to support the cause. Behind every daffodil there is a story.”
“I take the opportunity to mark Marie Curie's great daffodil appeal, which happens every March. Marie Curie is a great charity that seeks to raise awareness of needs and barriers in order to support people at the end of their life and their carers, loved ones and families across Northern Ireland. Marie Curie is a charity that has a special place in the hearts of many people across our country, including mine. <BR /> <BR />Marie Curie's 'Better End of Life Report 2024' found that one in three people were:”
“I thank the Minister for her statement, and I look forward to engaging with her at the Infrastructure Committee, hopefully sooner rather than later. From the time that the Glider was launched in 2018 to 2022, almost 4,000 penalties were issued for fare evasion. As a new Minister, I am keen to hear what lessons you feel can be learned about tackling fare evasion, particularly on the Glider services and in hotspots for fare evasion?”
“The number of assaults on prison staff has trebled over the past four years, from 32 in 2020 to 96 in 2024. Does the Minister feel that that has had an averse impact on the recent recruitment campaign? What more can be done to tackle what is a growing problem?”
“The "Let's Find Lisa" campaign has strongly advocated the introduction to Northern Ireland of what, in memory of Charlotte Murray, has become known as Charlotte's law. The Justice Minister has confirmed that she intends to bring forward that proposal in this mandate as part of a wider sentencing Bill, and I encourage her to continue to progress that. I will take the opportunity, as we mark this 20th anniversary, to once again urge anyone with any information that might help this grieving family 20 years on to bring it to the PSNI immediately. It is never too late to do the right thing: let's find Lisa.”
“If there is anything that we, as Members of the House, can do to offer hope to families in such a position, we have a moral responsibility to do it.”
“I commend the family for their bravery and resilience in continuing to search for truth and justice and to find Lisa. Sadly, Lisa's mum, Patricia, passed away with a broken heart in December 2015. However, the courage and commitment of Lisa's father, John, and her sisters Joanne, Michelle and Ciara over the years have given hope to so many other families in similar heartbreaking situations across Northern Ireland and, indeed, beyond. Having met members of Lisa's family on many occasions, I know that their desire for truth and justice continues and is just as strong today as it was 20 years ago. No family should ever have to face the additional heartbreak of not being able to bury a lost loved one.”
“As has been said, this week marks the 20th anniversary — we are just a few days short — of the disappearance of Lisa Dorrian, aged just 25 years old, from a caravan park in Ballyhalbert in County Down on 28 February 2005. Lisa is irreplaceable. Her disappearance has left a hole in the lives of her loving family and friends and continues to cast a dark shadow across our local community to this day, as, tragically, her body has never been found. <BR /> <BR />For two decades, Lisa's family have endured unimaginable pain and heartache, yet, throughout that time, they have shown extraordinary courage, resilience and determination in their quest for justice. They need to be commended. The campaign to find answers has not only kept Lisa's memory alive but shone a light on unresolved cases across Northern Ireland.”
“The changes by the Labour Government will, obviously, create a further significant challenge in the upcoming financial year and beyond. We need to see more clarity from the Minister. He has been in place now for a number of weeks. He is a very experienced Minister, and he knows the issues, so we hope to see more clarity from the Minister on their impact. <BR /> <BR />There are many more issues, and I know that they will be covered in more detail in the House tomorrow. I am sure that we all look forward to that.”
“There were 68 fatalities last year and 71 in 2023, and those are a stark and tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of the dangers on our roads. <BR /> <BR />In recent weeks and months, we have seen the impact of winter weather — storm Éowyn was mentioned — and the value of the Department for Infrastructure staff must be recognised, alongside that of NIE, working together with NI Water, to get our country reconnected and kept safe in such difficult circumstances. <BR /> <BR />The National Insurance issue, as has been mentioned across the House, is another key challenge from which the Department for Infrastructure does not escape. It leads to recruitment and retention challenges in the Department, and I know that the Minister is aware of that. The National Insurance issue adds even more complications.”
“We need to see action on delivering more efficient statutory consultee response times and promote good practice to make our planning system more efficient, effective and fit for purpose so that we can deliver for all our communities and ensure that we are attractive for investment that can grow our economy. <BR /> <BR />We in the DUP will continue to focus on an infrastructure that supports active travel and improves structured working between local and central government to improve our active travel infrastructure and address the regional imbalance that exists, particularly in our public transport network and infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />Road safety is another important issue that needs to be addressed, along with many more.”
“The Department for Infrastructure has said that budgetary pressures have led to routine road maintenance activities being reduced to a limited service. That has been in place for a number of years. However, the startling statistics that show that over £30 million was spent on vehicle and personal injury claims on our roads between 2018 and 2023 indicate that the Department seems to have adopted a penny wise and pound foolish approach to maintaining our road network. <BR /> <BR />There also needs to be a focus on promoting a more efficient planning process centrally and across our 11 councils, where we have 11 different models with 11 different stages of local development plans impacting on our councils. There is a need for variation across the country, but there also needs to be uniformity in many key aspects.”
“We acknowledge that the water, flooding and sustainable drainage Bill will look at the feasibility of developers making additional funding contributions. Those solutions and some creativity are welcome. NI Water also has a key role in tackling that problem, as it knows best what needs to be done. It needs to look at best practice across the globe and at all possible measures to try to turn the tide on a major issue that is crippling our economy and impacting on our daily lives. We need to balance extra investment with new, innovative and sustainable technological solutions.”
“Such agility in our Departments is key so that, if and when money becomes available, they are ready to capitalise on the opportunity. <BR /> <BR />There continue to be huge challenges in our waste water infrastructure. The current untenable situation is curtailing economic investment and access to fair and affordable housing, with housing waiting lists growing weekly in every corner of Northern Ireland. Everyone in the House should recognise that challenge. I know that the Minister has done work on that over the past year, and I trust that that work will continue. The new Infrastructure Minister has an opportunity to demonstrate that she is serious about delivering the positive change for all in the delivery of water and waste water infrastructure that she referred to last week following meetings with stakeholders.”
“It is vital to ensure that it remains on track, so that moneys are not returned needlessly. The SSEs reflect earmarked capital allocations for the A5, the A6 and the Belfast transport hub. It is important that those projects continue to advance. Throughout the year, there have been welcome additional funding allocations in resource and capital, which has included funding being delivered for NI Water and Translink. As is the case across all the Departments, however, that additional funding does not meet the requirements. The in-year allocations have allowed the transport and road asset management (TRAM) group to be agile and deliver much-needed resurfacing and maintenance schemes that were shovel ready, subject to funds becoming available.”
“I would like to think that he recognises the scale of the challenges and pressures in the Infrastructure Department. Over the past year, the Committee has listened to and engaged extensively with officials from the Department and Translink and more widely with stakeholders from across the Department's remit. They have all clearly spelled out the fiscal challenges that they face. Investment in our public services is crucial, but so, too, is ensuring that projects are delivered on time and within budget. We hear some other parties call relentlessly for the devolution of further fiscal powers, but perhaps there should also be a focus on tackling some of the preventable waste across the system. <BR /> <BR />The Department for Infrastructure forecasts that it will spend its resource and capital budgets in full.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak as a DUP member of the Infrastructure Committee on the important issue of the spring Supplementary Estimates. There is no doubt that infrastructure is a vital economic driver and social enabler across our country. It is the foundation that underpins the economic and social fabric of our communities and the key to unlocking a more prosperous, more productive and healthier society. We in the DUP are firmly committed to building world-class infrastructure that ensures that this is an attractive place in which to do business, maximising the opportunities that flow from our place in the Union and ending regional disparities. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Minister to his new post. It is ironic that our new Finance Minister is poacher turned gamekeeper.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Today is Safer Internet Day. Will the Minister outline how his Department works with other Departments to ensure that our young people are adequately protected from the harms associated with online gambling in particular and how his Department's actions to tackle mobile phone use in schools can assist with that work?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I welcome the research and the review of small business rate relief, but it will take time for them to reach their conclusion, and, for some, it will be too little, too late. What further assurances can the Minister provide to business owners in my constituency who have had to lay off staff, and what support can be provided? Will the Minister accept my recent invitation to meet members of the hospitality sector in my constituency?”
“Thank you for that, Minister. I believe that, over the past two weekends, the works have been postponed due to weather conditions. I am keen to find out a more accurate completion date, given the weather conditions.”
“Some 17,000 new homes across 23 of our towns are still being held up due to the waste water restrictions, so the system is clearly not working. What more can be done, particularly in relation to future monitoring rounds, to ensure that we can get back to homebuilding? Does the Minister agree that a sticking plaster approach simply will not cut it?”
“Lessons that need to be learned as a result of this storm include the need for robust and clear emergency preparedness. There is also a need for coordination and support for those most impacted on. Also, NIE has a role to play in compensating with goodwill payments those most impacted on.”
“Many roads were blocked over the weekend, and communities faced significant challenges, including structural damage to homes and businesses, uprooted trees blocking roads and disruption to many essential services. Through the storm, we saw community spirit at its best, with communities coming together, standing shoulder to shoulder in every corner of Northern Ireland. Churches opened their doors, local businesses provided food, community groups supported the most vulnerable and farmers cleared roads, to name but a few. Many vulnerable people were hit hardest. Our elderly population, those who are ill, newborn babies and young families have been greatly impacted on by the long power outages. <BR /> <BR />As we move forward, we must remain vigilant and be prepared for future weather events.”
“At its height, power to 220,000 properties and 30% of premises here was disconnected, which showed the scale of the challenge that we faced. The logistical support from the rest of our United Kingdom, and, indeed, from Europe, is very welcome. Progress has been made on that, and I think that more support is coming. My constituency of North Down was not spared. Two schools have had to close their doors today — Donaghadee Primary School and Clifton School — but, thankfully, they will be able to reopen tomorrow. <BR /> <BR />The storm has had an impact on people of every age. Many homeowners, businesses and farms are still without power, including in the Craigantlet hills, just two miles behind this very Building. We need to see urgent progress on getting full restoration.”
“<BR /> <BR />The storm, which was described by the Met Office as potentially the strongest to hit our United Kingdom in well over a decade, bringing winds in excess of 90 mph, left thousands of homes and businesses without power.”
“Storm Éowyn struck Northern Ireland with unprecedented force on Friday. It has left a trail of destruction and had an impact on every corner of our country. As the clear-up operation and work to restore power continue, I commend and pay tribute to the front-line and essential workers who were at the coalface of the storm. Although we are not out of the woods yet, we have made significant progress, and we should pay tribute to all those who have spent the past three days working very hard for us in some treacherous conditions indeed. To the Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) teams, the various agencies, DFI engineers, healthcare providers or carers, the PSNI, the emergency services, local farmers, council staff and local community volunteers, we say, "Thank you".”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and for his efforts in tackling the issue. Will he outline what the timescales are for the legal process to bring the Bill into operation? How does he think that it will benefit hard-pressed families?”
“I believe that allowing biological males among such prisoners carries risks and could undermine the protections for the dignity and safety of all prisoners in our custodial facilities; indeed, the recent High Court case highlighted the difficulties with the current policy gap in regard to transgender people in custody. <BR /> <BR />As I said, we need clarity and certainty, and this space provides an opportunity for our Justice Minister to provide that clarity and a clear direction to ensure the protection of rights and safety in our custodial facilities.”
“I believed that we had reached a consensus that the rights and safety of women must always remain paramount. The motion and the amendment reflect a commitment to safeguarding women's spaces and rights in a manner that is consistent with fairness and equality. <BR /> <BR />The motion raises an issue of profound importance in the justice system. When individuals are placed in custody, they are already in a vulnerable position. Many women and girls who come into contact with the justice system are vulnerable and have a range of complex and sensitive needs, often as a result of physical, sexual or domestic trauma or abuse. It is imperative that the system responsible for their care make every effort not to add to that vulnerability, particularly of those who may already feel unsafe.”
“We pay tribute to the dedicated staff in our Prison Service who deal with complex issues daily. <BR /> <BR />The very basis, as has been mentioned, for the creation of women-only facilities, including in prisons, was that their specific needs could be best catered for. Unfortunately, many will have experienced trauma or abuse. We need to look at the evidence from across the globe, including the UK. In March 2023, former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that Ireland may have to consider changing the law so that "women are protected". That links in with harrowing and horrific examples that we have seen in other parts of the UK, including in Scotland recently. <BR /> <BR />In the Chamber last week, we rightly spent several hours in collective agreement on the need to protect women and girls.”
“That gives some context to the scale of the issue and its importance across so many sectors of society. It is not related to solely the Northern Ireland Prison Service. <BR /> <BR />We have seen changes in recent years to promote fairness and equity across genders. There is no doubt that permitting biological males to reside among a female prisoner population carries risks that would undermine protections and could have serious consequences for the safety and dignity of women. An article in 'The Telegraph' last year stated that more than 70% of transgender prisoners in UK mainland jails were serving sentences for sex offences and violent crimes. That highlights the significance of the issue. As others have said, the welfare of everyone in custody must be paramount.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for that, and I will continue. The Minister will have her time later, I am sure. I know that she is keen to get involved in the debate, as we have already heard. <BR /> <BR />What I was saying gives a bit of context and shows that the issue does not relate solely to our Prison Service. As an example, Lord Coe said about sports:”
“It was interesting to note recent comments from Lord Coe, World Athletics president, when he said on the issue of trans policy in sports, as an example —.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion, which seeks to balance the rights, dignity and safety of all individuals across Northern Ireland. We must continue to advocate for the preservation of safe and accessible women-only spaces, including in prisons, as a matter of fairness and equality. Safeguarding and protection must come first. The need for safe spaces extends widely across our society and, indeed, beyond our prisons and custodial facilities. It includes places such as changing rooms, toilets and sports pitches, to name but a few. Over recent years, we have seen a growing need for clarity and certainty when dealing with such a sensitive issue. <BR /> <BR />The proposer of the motion mentioned sports and some of the issues around that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Any review must not only focus on criminalisation but consider prevention and education and the provision of support for victims. Education campaigns will be crucial in that regard. There is also a role for our education sector to look at the issue, given the rise in the use of that technology by people of all ages. Legislation alone cannot solve the issue. We must confront the underlying cultural attitudes that enable and normalise online violence against women and girls.”
“Careers can be ruined, relationships can be strained, lives can be disrupted, and, tragically, in some cases, even ended, as we have seen across the world. The abuse has knock-on effects on children, family members and loved ones. Deepfake imagery is becoming more prevalent, with Ofcom recently revealing that 43% of people aged 16 and above say that they have seen at least one deepfake image online within the past six months. For too long, we have seen dither and delay in addressing those issues, while individuals have continued to suffer and actors have continued to escape punishment for their vile abuse. They are leaving a trail of destruction right across our country and beyond. We must address the loopholes that allow perpetrators to exploit technological gaps in order to harm others.”
“Studies indicate that over 90% of non-consensual deepfake imagery involves female victims. Those manipulated images are not mere pranks or jokes; they are violations of dignity, breaches of privacy and sources of profound psychological and emotional distress and trauma. More robust and proportionate regulation of data and emerging technology is required in order to crack down on the abuse. As has been mentioned today, through the lens of anonymity, it is so easy to engage in harmful practices, such as deepfakes and efforts to undermine democracy through misinformation and disinformation. That is a fundamental issue. <BR /> <BR />For the women who are targeted, the consequences are devastating.”
“I also welcome the opportunity to speak on what is a very important issue, as colleagues have said. The alarming rise in online violence against women and girls, particularly through the misuse of deepfake technology and social media, demands our urgent and decisive action. It is a rapidly evolving issue. AI is becoming an increasingly important part of all our daily lives. It is interesting that, just yesterday, the UK Government announced a major plan to enhance how it is used across our nation. Although it is vital that we grasp the opportunities that AI provides, we must be acutely aware of its potential dangers, particularly in the wrong hands. Unfortunately, deepfake technology has been weaponised to perpetrate the abuse and humiliation of, disproportionately, women and girls.”