Áine Murphy
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />To those who are following today's debate, I say this: the wounds left by rejection, secrecy and institutional mistreatment run too deep for any statute to fully heal. What we can do, however, is to confront that history honestly.”
“As is the case with so many families across Ireland, the legacy of those institutions has echoed through our family history. I am delighted that she is in the Public Gallery to see the legislation reach its Final Stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />During Committee Stage, we worked constructively across party lines, because we recognised that survivors deserved legislation that reflected their experiences. When survivors highlighted ways in which the Bill could be strengthened, we took those seriously.”
“Many had experienced rape, abuse or exploitation even before arriving at those institutions, yet, too often, they were treated as though they were the ones who should carry shame. <BR /> <BR />Throughout Committee Stage, we listened to testimony that was difficult to hear but impossible to ignore.”
“For decades, many victims and survivors believed that nobody wanted to hear their story, and they often carried shame that was never theirs to bear, grief that society expected them to live with and secrets that were forced upon them by institutions that were supposed to care for and protect them with compassion.”
“<BR /> <BR />We heard the frustration of many survivors who spent years trying to obtain the most basic information about their lives. As one group said to the Committee, survivors were told that their records could re-traumatise them. It is worse not to know such vital information.”
The complete record
Every one of 419 lines we hold for Áine Murphy, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 9.
“The Minister has answered my supplementary question.”
“Minister will you expand on the detail of the proposals in the consultation paper on small business rate relief?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement on what is, no doubt, a deeply concerning and worrying time for many in our farming communities. Minister, in your statement, you said that officials will carry out further investigations as the days go on. Will you detail what exactly those further investigations will entail?”
“Farming's importance to rural communities cannot be overstated. The Executive have already written to the Chancellor to call for a higher threshold for the North, one that reflects the real value of land here. Without proper mitigations, families will be forced to sell off farmland just to meet tax bills. That would dismantle family farms and erode the heritage that has sustained rural communities for generations. <BR /> <BR />Our farmers are custodians of the land and the backbone of our rural communities. They support local economies, protect our landscapes and hold rural life together. The British Government must reverse the tax changes before irreparable damage is done. Farming is not just an industry; it is a way of life and the foundation on which rural communities have grown and endured for generations.”
“As we approach the upcoming Budget, I want to speak to a pressing concern that many of our rural communities and farmers face: the British Government's proposed changes to inheritance tax. We in Sinn Féin have consistently voiced our concerns about the disproportionate impact that the changes will have on family farms here. DAERA's analysis paints an alarming picture. A large proportion of farms will be hit, and 49% of farms, representing around 80% of the land that is farmed, would fall within the scope of the proposals. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear: this is not about asking for a handout; it is about asking for fairness. It is about recognition from a Government who often see farm assets simply as revenue rather than as a living and essential part of our rural economy and social fabric.”
“Farmers now have to navigate more complex and uncertain landscapes due to Brexit. The SR establishes the legal footing for the next phase of support, but it also highlights the gaps and vulnerabilities created by the loss of EU funding streams for our farming community.”
“The regulations also clarify that businesses that do not meet the historical years test will not be eligible for the FSP in 2026. They may qualify in later years but only by acquiring FSP entitlements on the market and meeting all other requirements. A restriction is also placed on transferring entitlements from ineligible businesses to new businesses established after the regulations are made in order to prevent circumvention. <BR /> <BR />I restate Sinn Féin's concerns regarding entrants and those who began farming after 2021. Unlike in the South of Ireland, where young farmers can benefit from the national reserve and enhanced entitlements, new entrants here have no such support. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I will be crystal clear: the entire policy redesign was triggered by Brexit.”
“The regulations also reset the two-year entitlement confiscation rule, meaning that no entitlements will be lost for non-activation in 2026. That reflects the fact that the FSTP and the FSP are being treated as separate schemes. <BR /> <BR />The order of penalties under the scheme is clearly defined in legislation. Participation in the soil nutrient health scheme and the bovine genetics programme will be mandatory for applicants. In Committee, I sought clarity on farmers' concerns around conditionality, particularly regarding genotyping becoming mandatory in the future. Last week, the Department confirmed in writing that the bovine genetics genotyping scheme will remain voluntary, although participation in the education programme will be compulsory.”
“The statutory rule (SR) will give legal effect to the new farm sustainability payment (FSP), which will replace the farm sustainability transition payment (FSTP) on 1 January 2026. The scheme is expected to attract around 22,000 applications each year and marks an important shift in how we support active farm businesses. The regulations introduce progressive capping of payments above £60,000, which will be phased in over two years. They also simplify land eligibility rules, allowing certain land features and areas of woodland to qualify, as set out in legislation. The FSP is restricted to active farmers who have management control of the land and carry out agricultural activity on at least 3 hectares. The rules will also apply to environmental farming scheme (EFS) higher-level agreements that are already in place.”
“Yes, we cannot control every global force driving inflation and, yes, we are subject to the decisions of yet another British Government who prioritise everyone but workers, from proposing inheritance tax on family farms to cutting support for the most vulnerable in our communities, but we can choose how we respond. We can strengthen welfare mitigations, oppose water charges and invest in the community organisations that hold our rural areas together. <BR /> <BR />I urge Members to support the motion. Let us act now to protect families, support workers and strengthen our rural communities.”
“They run warm hubs, deliver food parcels and support isolated older people, but they cannot carry this alone. They need clarity, sustained support and proper funding. Last week at the AERA Committee, we received an update on the new rural policy framework from officials that highlighted many of those areas, but even the Department has admitted that it will take months for support to get out at grassroots level. <BR /> <BR />The draft anti-poverty strategy needs clear goals and firm action to tackle food and fuel poverty, the issues that hit rural families hardest. We need policies that do not just sound good on paper but deliver real help on the ground. Rural families are hard-working, resilient and resourceful. They should not be punished by geography. They deserve a fair chance and to be protected from a crisis that they did not create.”
“I will highlight the rising cost of living and its devastating impact on workers, families and, in particular, our rural communities. <BR /> <BR />The cost of living has risen everywhere, but, in rural areas, the pain is more acute. With higher fuel costs, higher heating bills and barriers to accessing services, those communities are always asked to do more with less. For many, a car is not a choice but a necessity, yet the cost of filling the tank and the steep rise in insurance premiums, especially for younger motorists, make it nearly impossible for many families to get from A to B. Food prices have also surged. In rural areas, food banks report unprecedented demand. Community groups and charities are stretched to breaking point, yet those groups do extraordinary work.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, my question is on the work that you have done to date. What discussions have you had with counterparts in other jurisdictions?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, how can the Executive build on the work of the NSMC in order to deepen all-Ireland cooperation in the likes of health, infrastructure and the economy to ensure that that benefits all our people North and South?”
“Minister, can you detail what specific actions DAERA is taking to embed just transition principles in its agricultural policy?”
“I thank the Minister for his update. Minister, do you accept that scrapping AS levels and coursework would narrow learning for pupils and pile more pressure on those who have to undertake a high-stakes exam, albeit only one exam?”
“<BR /> <BR />Those experiences highlight the urgent need to strengthen our civil contingency planning. The Executive's civil contingency framework sets out a system of cohesion between Departments, councils and agencies. However, recent events have shown that communication between those bodies can be slow, inconsistent and confusing, and that means that delivery on the ground is delayed. Rural communities deserve a commitment from all bodies that guarantees fast action on the ground when they need it. We cannot continue to rely on goodwill and ad hoc coordination when communities are cut off. Strengthening our storm resilience is not just about repairing damage. It must be centred around prevention, planning and partnership to ensure that all agencies and utility companies work together effectively to protect our rural communities.”
“Time and time again, major power cuts in rural areas have been caused by trees, be they privately owned or owned by Forest Service, bringing down power lines, yet the response to remove those hazards has been far too slow. The Forest Service and private owners should work with utility companies, DFI and NIE to identify areas of high risk, undertake pre-storm assessments and ensure that trees near power lines are properly managed. A more proactive approach, one that prevents outages rather than simply reacting to them, would make a significant difference to rural residents, farms and our local businesses. It is simply unacceptable that homes are left in darkness and cut off from society for days on end because of delays in clearance works.”
“Yes, I concur with the Member. The point of the motion is about better cohesion, which we especially need to see between NIE and the health and social care trusts across the North. <BR /> <BR />We have all, no doubt, been contacted by constituents who have lost power. I think particularly of those constituents who are vulnerable. Some children rely on nebulisers and ventilators. Losing power leaves our rural residents isolated and vulnerable, as well as leaving farms unable to operate and businesses unable to open. <BR /> <BR />One area that clearly requires attention is the role of Forest Service when it comes to fallen trees and electricity outages.”
“<BR /> <BR />During storm Éowyn, some of my constituents in Rosslea were without power for more than 10 days. Most of them were elderly, but some were young families who have children with additional needs and life-limiting conditions.”
“In recent weeks and months, we have all witnessed the growing severity and frequency of storms across the island. Those storms wreaked havoc on homes, businesses and our rural communities and caused widespread disruption to electricity, broadband, transport and community infrastructure. Whilst no area has been left untouched or has not been impacted on, the acute impact has been felt mostly in our rural areas, where long distances, vulnerable connectivity and rugged terrain amplify the challenges when bad weather strikes. When severe storms hit, power lines are brought down, roads are blocked and broadband, as well as signal, drops. For too many families, that means days without heat and light, with no way to access vital information.”
“<BR /> <BR />Taken together, the Bills that I have mentioned, alongside the wider Executive legislation programme, reflect a shared determination to deliver meaningful change. I look forward to working with Ministers, Committees and Members from all parties to ensure that the Bills deliver tangible benefits for the people whom we represent.”
“<BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me not to mention the onshore petroleum licensing Bill that my colleague the Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, will be bringing forward. Although it will not fall within the remit of my Committee work, it is an issue that is close to my heart. One of my first acts when I joined the Assembly back in 2021 was to introduce a private Member's Bill to ban fracking, continuing the work of my predecessor, Seán Lynch. I have seen at first hand in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone the anxiety and disruption that even the threat of fracking has on a community. Sinn Féin has been steadfast in its support of those communities by standing firmly against fracking.”
“That long-awaited legislation carries huge importance for communities across the North. The disgraceful riots that we witnessed in the summer show just how necessary such protections are. With families having been intimidated from their homes in parts of Belfast even in recent weeks, we must send a clear message to our minority ethnic communities that we stand firmly with them and that everyone has the right to live safely, peacefully and with dignity. That Bill will ensure that our racial equality laws fully reflect and respond to the needs of minority ethnic communities. I look forward to supporting that legislation though Committee Stage and seeing the positive impact that it will undoubtedly have on all our communities.”
“I welcome the motion on the Executive legislation programme, which sets out an ambitious and wide-ranging future legislative agenda. <BR /> <BR />I will take a moment to highlight some of the priorities that are coming forward. As a member of the AERA Committee, I welcome the inclusion of the fisheries and water environment Bill. It is an important and timely step in modernising how we manage and protect our aquatic environments. As we take it forward, it is essential that DAERA's approach be balanced and proportionate. Protecting our environment must go hand in hand with supporting our rural communities, which already play a central role in maintaining and improving environmental standards. <BR /> <BR />As a member of the Committee for the Executive Office, I welcome the inclusion of the race equality Bill.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I notice that the consultation documents mention of the possibility of a "Centre First policy". How does that align with your responsibilities in DAERA for rural affairs?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. It is welcome news that will be reassuring to many homeowners, particularly those living on sites newly built since 2024. <BR /> <BR />Minister, can you elaborate on what the changes to the bond release thresholds are exactly?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. How does DAERA intend to escalate disease control measures, if the outbreak intensifies? Supplementary to that, how will those steps ensure that the wider poultry industry is not affected?”
“I thank the Minister for his substantive answer. Minister, you have, no doubt, acknowledged the important part that the community and voluntary sector plays in our rural communities. Can you update us on any engagement that you have had with the sector?”
“That is not just the reality in one or two isolated cases but the reality for most sufferers, and it points to a systemic failure in women's healthcare. <BR /> <BR />Supporting the motion is about changing the culture in healthcare so that women are not left fighting to be believed. Women deserve specialist-led services, targets and timely diagnosis, as well as a joined-up approach that utilises all the resources across this island.”
“In many cases, it leads to many years of missing school, missing university, not competing in sports, not having hobbies, not having a social life and having to withdraw from their normal daily life any time that they have a period. <BR /> <BR />Endometriosis involves not just painful periods. It can have other consequences, such as infertility, internal scarring and organ damage. For a condition that affects so many, it is woefully difficult to get a timely diagnosis and access to proper care. I have constituents, friends and family members who have been told that their pain is normal. They are asked to distrust their own instincts, ignore the warnings from their own body and live with a constant cycle of agony.”
“I support the motion on endometriosis care that my party colleagues tabled. It is an urgent and deeply personal issue that affects the lives of thousands of women across this island. We know that endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects at least one woman in 10, but all the stats in the world cannot capture the lived reality for young women who begin to experience that debilitating illness in their early teenage years. <BR /> <BR />Puberty is already a confusing time for young women, but those who suffer from endometriosis have to cope with enormous and reoccurring changes to their bodies that impact on most aspects of their lives. Couple that with the excruciating pain and symptoms of endometriosis, and it is a lot to ask any young woman to handle.”
“<BR /> <BR />Protecting Sliabh Beagh is about climate control, but it is also about rural development and community pride. As we all know, resources are scarce in rural areas, so we need to ensure that communities are supported in their efforts to protect and develop such sites for the benefit of everyone, thereby ensuring that Sliabh Beagh can achieve its potential and remain a thriving landscape for generations to come.”
“That is why education is so important: so that people can understand just how dire the consequences are of lighting fires in protected areas. That must be followed by robust enforcement where any wrongdoing is detected. <BR /> <BR />The destruction has a huge impact on rural communities. Many farmers and landowners around Sliabh Beagh already play their part by trying to protect the habitats as best as possible, including by reducing fire risk and managing the land responsibly. There is enormous potential to develop the Sliabh Beagh area into a driver of sustainable rural tourism. That is evidenced by the £5 million investment from the Shared Island Fund. Walking routes, eco-tourism and cultural heritage trails can bring much-needed investment into rural areas, creating jobs and income while safeguarding the environment.”
“I thank my constituency colleague for bringing the Adjournment debate to the House. <BR /> <BR />Sliabh Beagh is a site of ecological and cultural importance that spans County Tyrone, County Fermanagh and County Monaghan. It is a place of beauty, a space for recreation and an important part of our natural heritage. Beyond that, it is a vital part of our environment and of the public health infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />When fires rip through peatlands, the damage goes far beyond the visible destruction. Peatlands are some of our most effective carbon sinks, locking away greenhouse gases that would otherwise accelerate climate change. When they burn, not only is that storage capacity lost but harmful emissions are released directly into the atmosphere. That is a huge price for society to pay for a moment of recklessness.”
“There has been new technology to better identify and respond to defects; ongoing pilot projects that look at innovative materials and repair methods; and attempts to target the limited funding where it can make the greatest impact. A properly funded maintenance strategy will deliver smoother, safer roads for all our constituents but especially for those in rural areas who have to rely on them to access all of life's necessities.”
“<BR /> <BR />The motion makes reference to the need for a long-term plan for the maintenance of our road network — one that focuses on effective, high-quality repairs; improves planning and efficiency; addresses workforce pressures; and ensures fairness between urban and rural areas. A proper road maintenance strategy must be preventative, not just reactive. It must address drainage and resurfacing and ensure that rural roads are not left to deteriorate to a dangerous level. Poor roads do not just damage vehicles. They discourage investment and tourism and create a real risk for the emergency services that need to respond quickly and safely. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the efforts that have been made already by the Minister to achieve improvements.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion as Sinn Féin's spokesperson for rural communities. There is no doubt that the condition of our road network is a matter of real concern. I am sure that the constituency offices of most of us, if not all of us, have been inundated daily with roads issues and queries. In rural areas such as mine, the road network is a lifeline. It connects families to schools, workplaces and local businesses. Many rural households have no alternative to driving, so the condition of our roads is an important aspect of the economic and social life of our rural constituencies.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. The Ulster canal project is widely welcomed by my constituents; it is literally up the road from me. Will the Minister agree that the project will be a great boost to the all-island economy?”
“<BR /> <BR />The recent pause that the trust has taken must focus minds. For far too long, the trust has taken a haphazard approach, and it is past time that the voices of front-line staff, patients and the community are listened to and respected by the trust. It is past time that confidence is rebuilt and past time that services are restored.”
“Expanding that cooperation will help to ensure that rural communities in Fermanagh and Tyrone are not left behind but, instead, will benefit from the full-scale capacity of an all-island health system. <BR /> <BR />SWAH has incredible potential. Its geographical location places it in a position to treat patients from across the north-west region of Ireland. Fully commissioning unused theatre space and additional bed capacity needs to be and should be explored. Our community has invested in SWAH. The people of Fermanagh campaigned for it. They cherish it, and they depend on it. The RQIA and constituents have rightly highlighted outstanding issues with patient pathway, double ED waits and delayed transfers. There is a raft of outstanding issues that still have to be addressed.”
“Rural patients are, of course, entitled to the same level of care as is available anywhere else on this island; yet, today, we have patients in Fermanagh who face a drive of over two hours to Altnagelvin to access emergency general surgery. That is not equitable; it is not safe; and it falls short of the principle of healthcare parity. <BR /> <BR />If we are talking about genuine healthcare transformation, as many of us have done in the Chamber over recent years and recent months, we need to be ambitious. That means looking at services on an island-wide basis, where services are planned, funded and delivered on the basis of patient need. We have already seen how resources can be shared on a cross-border basis to the benefit of all patients, such as cardiac services in Derry and cancer care in Dublin.”
“Recently, of course, we had the extraordinary and deeply troubling situation when the Health Minister had to ask the Western Trust to pause the consultation due to ongoing concerns regarding the credibility of the process itself — an intervention from the Minister that I want to welcome and have welcomed. <BR /> <BR />My Sinn Féin colleagues and I have consistently made the case from day 1 that there is a fundamental difference between service transformation and service collapse. True transformation must be rooted in partnership, co-design, a clear road map and a vision for services. What has occurred to date does not resemble transformation at all but is, in fact, a hollowing out of services that has left patients, families and front-line staff in limbo.”
“Since then, the Western Trust has shattered public trust, ignored repeated calls for increased community engagement and failed to develop a road map or any clear vision in relation to the reinstatement of emergency general surgery. That, in itself, is an indictment of how the issue has been mismanaged to date.”
“I wish my constituency colleague Deborah Erskine and her husband all the very best as they prepare to welcome their new arrival in the coming weeks. I welcome the members of the emergency services who have joined us here this evening. <BR /> <BR />When emergency general surgery was first suspended in December 2022, the Western Trust said that it was a temporary suspension. In the months and years since, however, the actions of the trust, or the lack of action in some cases, have given a very different impression. The recruitment of surgical consultants on "trust-wide contracts" indicated that the suspension was being viewed as anything but temporary.”
“Minister, how is the cross-border implementation of the water framework directive being aligned North and South, particularly in achieving good ecological status targets?”
“Proper resourcing needs to be provided to front-line organisations like Women's Aid and other vital support services that are at the coalface of supporting women and their families through domestic violence and abuse. The Department of Justice and the Department of Health must implement the recommendations that are made on their approach and that of statutory agencies and the role that they play at a multi-agency level. <BR /> <BR />Out of this darkness, there must be a renewed determination across all sections of our society to end gender-based violence and ensure that our constituents feel safe and protected in their homes and communities. Today, we remember Vanessa, James, Sara, Concepta and all victims of domestic abuse and gender-based violence.”
“Remembering Concepta, Vanessa, James and Sara reminds us of the lives, full of love, potential and generosity, that were lost through tragedy and cut short by needless violence. I acknowledge the emergency services, local clergy, schools and community groups that rallied around those who were most affected to support them. Their quiet dedication in the most distressing of circumstances rightly deserves our recognition. <BR /> <BR />We must take time to reflect on the fact that, once again, the brutal loss of life has brought to the fore urgent and, rightly, uncomfortable questions about how we, as a society, address violence against women, girls and children and the devastating impact of domestic violence.”
“Our first thoughts must be with the wider family circle, friends and neighbours of Vanessa, James and Sara. All three were active members of their beloved St Mary's Maguiresbridge Gaelic Football Club and St Patrick's Lisbellaw Hurling Club, where their absence will be felt deeply on the field and the sidelines. James and Sara were known for their energy, enthusiasm and determination, whilst Vanessa was not only a devoted mother but a friend, colleague and neighbour whose warmth touched so many. <BR /> <BR />Of course, it is not the first time that such an incident has faced the people of south-east Fermanagh. In 2017, Concepta Leonard was murdered by her ex-partner. She was a loving mother, a musician and a friend to many, whose life was needlessly taken.”
“I rise to speak about the devastating and senseless murders of Vanessa Whyte and her two beloved children, James and Sara, that happened in the summer.”