Aisling Reilly
West Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“As well as thanking every one of the victims and survivors who have contributed, I take the opportunity to also thank the Members of the House past and present and, in particular, the Committee Chair and Committee members, who worked so diligently and carefully to study and examine the Bill, to listen to victims and survivors and to bring…”
“Dealing with that injustice was core to the approach of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Before concluding deliberations on the Bill, I will bring our focus back to the women and children — now adults — their families and all survivors whose experiences have brought us to this point.”
“It is only by addressing the truths hidden in dark shadows that we can begin to properly shine a light on a society that continues to violate and oppress too many women and girls and to make sure that it never happens again and that, together, we commit to breaking the cycle of harm and violence against women and girls.”
“I hope that it now respects and fulfils the wishes of the women and girls who, for many decades, have suffered and been silenced. <BR /> <BR />It is a large, complex and sensitive piece of legislation. It is, no doubt, much more complex legislation than it first appeared, and there were many factors to balance.”
“<BR /> <BR />For some, the prospect of engaging with the inquiry may feel daunting. For that reason, we listened to victims and survivors when they told us that they wanted us to create a dual investigation, so that individuals had the option to engage with an expert independent panel and provide testimony in a different and more informal…”
“I say to the people who are still considering whether to come forward that your testimony matters. To those who have spent years searching for answers, I say that the inquiry will seek those answers.”
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“<BR /> <BR />Meeting those challenges will force a re-evaluation of the role of high streets in a modern society, but, within the scope of that re-evaluation, there is an opportunity for revitalisation and for reimagining how high streets can better serve our communities into the future. The Minister for the Economy's response to the challenges faced by our high streets is shaped by his vision for the economy. At the heart of his vision are commitments to securing a regionally balanced economy and creating the conditions for more good jobs for our people. Minister Murphy intends to support the economic performance of our regions by putting in place a coherent ecosystem that acknowledges the need for the key players to work more closely together.”
“<BR /> <BR />Recent years have seen our high streets face unprecedented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant economic disruption, forcing many businesses to close temporarily or adjust operations, leading to reduced foot traffic and altered shopping habits. Business have faced a costs crisis driven by increases in the prices of food, energy and other essentials. They have faced recruitment and retention challenges due to a combination of historically low unemployment and stubbornly high levels of economic inactivity. The retail and hospitality sectors have continued concerns about VAT rates, late-night transport and insurance.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion on behalf of the Minister for the Economy, and I thank Members for bringing forward this important issue for discussion today. <BR /> <BR />The fabric of community life and its economic vibrancy are significantly woven through the high streets and town centres that span our cities, towns and villages. Those places have historically been the heart of local, commercial and civic life: bustling centres of activity providing essential services, retail opportunities and spaces for social interaction. They are the stage on which much of local daily life unfolds. They embody the communal and cultural spirit of the areas that they serve, and they exist as barometers of local economic health, with busy businesses and lively public spaces signalling a thriving community.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“We must challenge and confront any form of prejudice and ensure values of respect and equality for all. Our collective goal is to build a society where every individual, regardless of their background or identity, can live free from fear, hate and intolerance. We should all work actively and together to make sure that our communities are safe and welcoming for everyone.”
“All forms of violence, hate and discrimination have to be tackled head-on and called out. There is no place for racism in our society. We need to support inclusion.”
“A consultation on a review of the Race Relations Order started in March 2023 and formally closed in June 2023. A report on the responses and feedback from the consultation was published in August 2024. We aim to bring updated race relations legislation to the Assembly, through the legislative programme, in the 2025-26 session. The report considered over 50 amendments and will inform the basis for any legislative changes. It will move us a step closer to providing the best possible legal protection against racism and towards a more equal society.”
“Subject to budget, we will extend the fund for current recipients by one year during 2025-26 to align with a new strategic approach, and officials are working through the procedures that are required to implement that.”
“The minority ethnic development fund continues to be a key element of policy for racial equality and good race relations. It is intended to align with and support our racial equality strategy 2015-2025, and it is a vehicle for delivering aspects of the vision and shared aims. In line with a review of the fund, a three-year funding scheme is in place from April 2022 to March 2025 to help provide successful groups with greater stability and enable longer term planning and support. <BR /> <BR />There are 31 successful applicants being supported through the fund, which is worth approximately £1·1 million per annum. We recognise the value that the sector places on the fund and how it can support organisations to provide critical services to minority ethnic communities here.”
“One of our key priorities is building a society where racial equality and diversity are supported, valued and respected. Work is continuing to deliver the commitments in the racial equality strategy. Beyond 2025, it is important that there is a clear mechanism and overarching framework for achieving racial equality and eradicating racism in our society. <BR /> <BR />On 11 September 2024, I attended a workshop with the racial equality subgroup and the Travellers and Roma thematic groups. The purpose was to gather initial thoughts on the way forward. Feedback from that workshop along with input from key stakeholders, including the wider minority ethnic sector, will inform any future strategic approach. We all want to see the end of racism and to make this a fair and inclusive society where everyone is made to feel welcome and safe.”
“I have outlined the good work that Urban Villages has done throughout the North. It has had a wide reach, and it has been impactful for people of all ages. We are focused on investing in securing the sustainability of remaining capital projects. As I said, we will keep Members up to date.”
“Ministers are reviewing the areas where Urban Villages phase 2 will have the most impact, including more rural areas. We will keep Members informed as that process progresses.”
“<BR /> <BR />As you have already heard, the programme has clearly delivered a tangible benefit across participating communities. Successful delivery of the remaining capital projects will increase access to shared space facilities and continue to promote integration across the five Urban Villages areas and beyond. We have set out a strategic direction for Urban Villages in the time ahead. That will include completing the current Urban Villages plan, with a focus on delivering the remaining capital portfolio projects; investing in securing the sustainability of capital projects; working on capacity building to support community organisations that are taking forward large capital projects; and planning for the future by establishing a working group to take forward the development of phase 2.”
“Since coming into this position, I have had the great opportunity, alongside other Ministers, to visit numerous sites throughout the North. We were at the New Gate Arts and Culture Centre in the Fountain area of Derry, and at Hosford Community Homes in east Belfast. I commend the great work that is done by the East Belfast Mission and at the community garden and family sheds in south Belfast. There is also the Lockhouse development that will be delivered. Just last week, I attended another great event in the City Hall that brought schoolchildren together. It was a buddy-up initiative celebration. That really showed that good community relations are beneficial not just for the schools and teachers but for the kids and the parents.”
“As the Member knows, Urban Villages, by design, was not supposed to be a long-term funder. We have to learn from what has worked throughout the programme and how we can improve. It has made a real impact on communities by improving good relations and supporting regeneration. Alongside junior Minister Cameron, I have visited numerous sites, met organisations and witnessed the positive changes that have taken place as result of the programme. Work on the ground continues, with those local communities playing a vital role in shaping the projects and benefiting from their delivery. I look forward to working with officials in the Department on the development of Urban Villages.”
“Successful delivery of the remaining capital projects will increase access to shared space facilities and continue to promote integration across the area and beyond. We recently set out the strategic direction for Urban Villages, which will include completion of the remaining capital projects on the current plan.”
“To date, £16·3 million has been invested in North Belfast in Urban Villages capital projects, 13 of which are now complete. Four projects are being progressed in the area, including the Ardoyne Bone Community (ABC) Health and Leisure Trust hub, which is on-site now, and the redevelopment of Ballysillan playing fields, where construction is due to begin on-site in November of this year. A Westland community centre is being explored. Westland Community Group has invited us to meet it to talk about the community centre, and we hope to take that offer up in the near future. More than £2 million has been invested through revenue projects to improve good relations outcomes in the North Belfast Urban Villages area. The impact that the Urban Villages programme has had in the North Belfast community is significant.”
“It is still early days for the scheme, but the feedback has already been very positive, and we are confident that it will benefit our citizens' well-being and promote period dignity. I thank Members for the support that they have signalled for the regulations, and I commend the regulations to the Assembly.”
“That will, no doubt, assist them in establishing arrangements as required by the 2022 Act. Our Department has also undertaken to make free period products available to its staff and visitors. Our officials, working with the ALBs, estimate the costs to be negligible, and it is likely that those costs will be absorbed within the arm's-length bodies' existing baselines. Our officials will also monitor the roll-out of the scheme in our ALBs and the wider provision in public libraries to ensure that those who wish to access products can do so. <BR /> <BR />To clarify, the arm's-length bodies will make free period products available for those who need them, such as employees or visitors, while on their premises. On the other hand, public libraries are providing products for everyone who needs them.”
“Those who may need the products — any person who menstruates — should, therefore, be able to pick them up, without having to ask someone, from an accessible location in the ALB's premises: for example, from a disabled bathroom. Arm's-length bodies will also be required to consider using environmentally friendly, sustainable or biodegradable products. The 2022 Act also requires that those bodies have regard to products that are reusable. <BR /> <BR />Our officials have been liaising with the arm's-length bodies as to how the regulations will be implemented, and I am pleased to report that the Department's ALBs have fully embraced the scheme. In advance of the regulations coming into effect, all our ALBs have undertaken to make free period products available on a pilot basis.”
“<BR /> <BR />Once the regulations are made, there are several further steps that the Executive Office and its arm's-length bodies will need to complete. First, the Department will consult the relevant bodies on the guidance to be issued. Arm's-length bodies will then consult their product users on the ways in which products can be obtained, where they will be located and the types of products that will be available. Following that, the ALBs will publish a statement on the arrangements that are to be put in place. <BR /> <BR />ALBs will be required to make sure that products are made available in a way that respects the dignity, privacy and confidentiality of the person accessing the free products.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Members for their contributions. The regulations mark a further step in the implementation of the Period Products (Free Provision) Act 2022. As I stated in my opening remarks, the regulations will sit alongside the Executive Office's separate duty under the 2022 Act to make period products publicly available. <BR /> <BR />As I stated, Libraries NI, in partnership with our Department, has been making products available for people to take home since May 2024. It also allows for others to collect products for someone else who needs them. The regulations will ensure that staff and visitors in TEO's arm's-length bodies are able to avail themselves of free products, if they need them while on those premises.”
“In due course, each body will carry out its own consultation exercise and publish statements on the arrangements that they will put in place. I thank those bodies for their cooperation to date. <BR /> <BR />The draft regulations sit alongside the Executive Office's separate duty under the Act to make period products publicly available. Our officials have worked with Libraries NI to ensure that period products are freely available in all public libraries for anyone who needs them. Junior Minister Cameron and I were delighted to attend the launch of that scheme in May this year, and we understand that feedback on that has been positive. We thank the Executive Office Committee for its prompt scrutiny of the draft regulations.”
“Today, we seek the Assembly's approval of the draft Period Products (the Executive Office Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024. The introduction of the draft regulations is required under the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which began as a private Member's Bill that was sponsored by former SDLP MLA Pat Catney. <BR /> <BR />The draft regulations mark another important step in the journey to making universal access to period products a reality for all who need them. They will complement similar legislation from other Departments. That will mean that more arm's-length bodies will make free period products available to all staff and visitors who need to use them while on their premises.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ní hé amháin go mbíonn gníomhaithe Ghlór na Móna ar a ndícheall ag cur seirbhísí Gaeilge ar fáil i gCluanaí uachtair, bíonn siad i mbun feachtais ar fud na cathrach: d’imir siad ról lárnach in An Dream Dearg, agus bhí ról acu fosta ag déanamh cumann neamhspleách de chuid Chumann Lúthchleas Gael de Laochra Loch Lao. Arís, níl sa mhéid sin ach cuid de na héachtaí atá curtha i gcrích acu. <BR /> <BR />Comhghairdeas libh, a chairde: bhí Féile na Carraige eagraithe go hiontach agaibh i mbliana, le himeachtaí thar a bheith suimiúil. Bhí ócáid chéiliúrtha den scoth eagraithe agaibh i Halla na Cathrach, agus ba mhór an pléisiúr liom bheith libh oíche Shathairn. Tá bród orm bheith i mo bhall de phobal na Gaeilge. Go maire sibh an chéad 20 eile bliain.”
“Ba mhaith liom aird a dhíriú ar eagraíocht phobail Ghaeilge i mo thoghlach, Glór na Móna, atá ag céiliúradh 20 bliain ar an fhód. Eagraíocht phobail agus óige Ghaeilge í Glór na Móna a bunaíodh sa bhliain 2004 le deiseanna oideachais agus sóisialta a chur ar fáil do phobal Gaeilge Chluanaí uachtair. <BR /> <BR />Ó bunaíodh í, tá scoth na hoibre déanta ag Glór na Móna. Bíonn siad ag obair leo ag eagrú ranganna Gaeilge, club óige, scéimeanna samhraidh, Fhéile na Carraige agus Fhéile na gCloigíní Gorma, agus níl iontu sin ach cuid de na rudaí a bhíonn idir lámha acu.”
“Yes, we have been delayed, but I assure everyone inside and outside the Chamber that we will not be denied and that Casement will be built.”
“<BR /> <BR />We will continue to work with the GAA, the local Executive and the Irish and British Governments to push the project forward, build state-of-the-art facilities and deliver a first-class stadium for Gaelic games. We might have missed the Euros, but, clearly, the rewards are still massive when it comes to creating jobs, increasing tourism and having a sporting facility that represents a vote of confidence in this generation and future generations. <BR /> <BR />I pass Casement every day on my way home in Andytown. As someone who had the honour of playing in Casement and who now has the honour of representing the people of West Belfast, I know that it will have a hugely positive sporting and cultural legacy for generations to come. I certainly will not give up on that. We will not give up on that.”
“Hosting the UEFA Euro 2028 games at Casement Park would have been an epic opportunity to showcase the very best of our island on a world stage. Unfortunately, the British Government, with their announcement late on Friday night, have now spurned the opportunity to host the Euros. The announcement was hugely disappointing to those of us who recognise the massive long-term and transformational benefits that the Casement Park project will bring. It is also hugely disappointing to anyone who believed that the new British Government might have adopted a different approach from the austerity and cuts of their Tory predecessors. The Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, said clearly that Casement Park will be built. I urge him and his Government to honour the commitments that they have made.”
“The years of training, dedication and sacrifice, for not only the athletes but their families, to get to that stage is truly immense. <BR /> <BR />I know that preparation for LA in 2028 is under way. As public representatives, we should strive for the investment in our local sporting facilities and infrastructure that our communities deserve, because we have to ensure the continued success of our local sporting heroes on the world stage. I congratulate all the athletes and wish them the very best. Along with your clubs, your families and your coaches, we all support you. We are all behind you, and we are very proud of your achievements. Ádh mór libh uilig.”
“I thank the Member for bringing this matter to the House today. Our Olympic and Paralympic athletes serve as powerful role models who embody not only resilience but determination and excellence. Their achievements transcend sport and show people of all abilities that greatness is defined not by limitations but by perseverance and heart. By showcasing their incredible feats, they not only inspire future generations to push past barriers but change perceptions of disability on a global scale. The legacy that they will leave after these games is one of hope, demonstrating that, with the right mindset, anything is possible. Seeing these athletes compete over the past couple of weeks and months will foster inclusion and empower individuals to pursue their dreams, regardless of any obstacles that they face.”
“As I mentioned, over one million people have benefited from the £2·4 million investment in Derry through the Urban Villages programme. That has helped to boost and support community work, tourism and heritage projects, education, arts and culture by investing not only in capital projects but in the capacity required to ensure sustainability and long-term positive social and economic impacts on the city. The Executive Office will continue to speak to delivery partners on the ground to ensure that their input is considered as we move forward and to determine the best way to build on all that has been achieved so far. Collaboration with our Executive colleagues will be key to that work, and I look forward to updating Members on future plans for the programme, once options have been considered.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have seen other positive outworkings throughout Derry, whether that be the Magee campus expansion, the redevelopment of Meenan Square or the investment in Ebrington. Our Department and other Departments will continue with that positive work and ensure delivery for the people of Derry. Over one million people have benefited from the Urban Villages programme in Derry, which has helped to boost and support community work, tourism and heritage projects. The Urban Villages team will operate in Derry in the Fountain area, Bishop Street and Bogside until at least 2027 to allow the planned capital projects to complete, and we will continue to work with our colleagues in other Departments as well to find out how we can best support and deliver for communities in an impactful and sustainable way.”
“As I said, Urban Villages provided £92,600 of funding to the Fountain Primary School and Nursery Unit transport scheme from 2017 to March 2024. I am aware that the Minister of Education visited the school recently. I have been in Derry on a number of occasions, along with junior Minister Cameron. We visited Greater Shantallow Community Arts Centre, New Gate Arts and Culture Centre and Foyle Women's Aid, and we saw at first hand the great work, in particular in the community and voluntary sector, and the vision that they have for their communities. I worked and will work alongside anyone and everyone, because we see and recognise the importance of the positivity that Urban Villages brings to Derry.”
“Through Urban Villages, £92,600 of funding has been provided to the Fountain Primary School and Nursery Unit transport scheme from September 2017 to March 2024. Urban Villages was never intended to be a core funder. The idea and aim was to provide additionality to existing provision in areas. Revenue funding for all Urban Villages community-led and cross-cutting projects ceased on 31 March 2024. Funding for the Fountain Primary School transport scheme was part of that funding. Officials have put together a range of options for the future of the Urban Villages programme. We are committed to continuing to promote thriving places and achieve the best outcomes for all our citizens. We will, of course, update Members on future plans for the programme once options have been considered.”
“Yes, I am happy to provide that for the Member. We are currently considering the budget allocations across the Executive Office. When that is finalised, we will consider the recommendations from officials on how good relations funding should be distributed across T:BUC headline actions and broader good relations programmes. All preparation work is complete, including the assessment process for all 2024-25 applications for good relations funding. Letters of offer to successful applicants will be issued where appropriate after a budget for each programme in 2024-25 has been confirmed.”
“That shows the value of investing in our young people, believing in them and encouraging them to believe in themselves. Programmes such as T:BUC provide opportunities for our communities to take positive pathways, work together, learn from each other and build a better place for our people to live, work and thrive in. As an Executive, we are committed to improving community relations here and look forward to building on all the progress made to date.”
“I concur that engaging with young people is extremely important. It is important because young people are key to our society. As I mentioned, T:BUC of course stands for Together: Building a United Community, which is recognised in delivering on the ground and investing in our young people, across communities, over the past decade. <BR /> <BR />The planned interventions programme in particular funds community activity aimed at providing positive alternatives for young people who are at risk of becoming involved in antisocial behaviour, sectarianism and recruitment by paramilitary gangs. Since 2015, through various projects, the programme has been delivered to over 30,000 young people. The outcome is that over 90% of those young people have improved self-confidence and are less likely to be involved in negative behaviour.”
“The Together: Building a United Community strategy reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations between people from different political, ethnic and religious backgrounds here. Since 2013, a huge amount of progress has been made in key thematic areas such as shared housing, shared education, removing interface barriers and engaging with young people. The make-up of society is increasingly diverse, and we need to make sure that our good relations approach continues to engage effectively with all those who live here. Officials are developing a final draft of the review for Ministers’ consideration with a view to developing a refreshed approach to good relations and establishing what that will look like, building on progress to date.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers have given initial consideration to the appointments process as well, and we hope to make an announcement about the recruitment competition in due course. We are determined to make progress on the process. It is a substantial piece of work but one that we will absolutely deliver.”
“The preparatory work has begun to establish the three new bodies under the Identity and Language Act. This place that we call home is rich and diverse when it comes to language, culture and identity, and we want to make sure that that is reflected in and protected by the offices and commissioners. Officials have undertaken preparatory work, including on the practical arrangements that are required to establish the three new bodies under the Identity and Language Act and on engagement with different language groups, in order to ensure that the process is properly informed. It is important that the process is done properly and effectively so as to ensure that the offices are fit for purpose.”
“It will be no surprise to the Member, when we talk about those offices being established and operating along with the commissioners, that it is an absolute priority for me and the Department that the process is done properly and effectively, in order to make sure that the offices are fit for purpose. I am happy to take that back to the Executive Office.”
“The experience, in our Department, is that a public appointment process takes approximately a year from the initial decisions made in respect of the process.”
“The Executive Office is responsible for taking forward the necessary arrangements to implement the provisions of the Identity and Language Act 2022, including the establishment of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, the Irish language commissioner and the commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and the Ulster-British tradition. We have given initial consideration to the appointments process and hope to make an announcement about the necessary recruitment competitions in due course. Our officials have undertaken the initial work, which includes the practical arrangements for establishing those bodies. We have already indicated that the competitions for up to eight public appointments to those new bodies will be run at the same time.”
“We need to be ambitious for their futures and create opportunities for them to stay here, live here, thrive here and raise their families here. <BR /> <BR />Today, we are talking about supporting educational achievement in West Belfast. I will do everything that I can to support the collaboration, investment and political leadership that is required to do that. However, the Sinn Féin vision for education is one in which all areas thrive, all economies benefit and all children get the opportunity to reach their full potential here in life.”
“It is an unfortunate reality that we still have many different viewpoints as to how the education system here should operate. However, for me, it is very simple. You just have to look at the evidence, here and internationally. We still have a long tail of underachievement in the North and far too many young people leaving school without the qualifications that they need or the aspiration that they deserve. Academic selection and rejection is the key driver of that inequality, and continuing with that flies in the face of the overwhelming empirical and international evidence that demonstrates how damaging the transfer test is for children and their outcomes in life. We can do so much better for them, and I urge all parties to embrace that message. We need to be ambitious for our children and young people.”
“We know that all Departments are under pressure due to chronic underfunding from the British Government for many years now, but we still have a responsibility to ensure that we do the best for those whom we are here to serve, not least the children and young people who attend our schools and colleges. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Minister's statement that committed £20 million for a place-based initiative to support a whole-community approach to education, as recommended in the "A Fair Start" report. As I said earlier, a whole-community approach is vital to a successful educational system. So, too, is a united political approach. Creating aspiration and fostering opportunity are multifaceted and require a cross-departmental approach.”
“Glór na Móna also does tremendous work in the community and in youth work, among a range of other areas, to ensure that education does not stop at the school gates. <BR /> <BR />In West Belfast, we are also very much looking forward to the planned new build of All Saints College on the Glen Road, as that represents an investment not just in bricks and mortar but in the future of our young people. It shows them that we believe in them and that they are worth investing in. That should be our main role as political leaders and lawmakers. We need to encourage aspiration, create opportunities and demonstrate to the children and young people of West Belfast that they have a future here. We will do that by investing in the schools estate, and I want to see every school that requires it benefit from the required capital spending.”
“sector in West Belfast, where children and young people benefit from full-immersion, Irish-medium education, from naíscoil go meánscoi.”
“I also know many teachers, staff, parents and governors involved in schools, including in my area of lower Andersonstown and upper Springfield in West Belfast, whose dedication to the children in their care is nothing short of inspiring. <BR /> <BR />The people of West Belfast have always valued education. They recognise its power to transform lives for the better. It was that community commitment to education that saw the ground-up development of Coláiste Feirste, for example, which I was very fortunate to attend. Irish-medium education in West Belfast began with just a handful of parents, battling against overwhelming odds and all kinds of resistance but united in their shared commitment to the right of our children to enjoy a quality education through the medium of their native language. Today we have a thriving Gaeloideachas”