Cathy Mason
South Down · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“The result is that pupils can still face barriers, whereas a straightforward legal entitlement would have resolved the issue once and for all. <BR /> <BR />Picture this: one of our daughters is sitting in a classroom during her period. She is worried about leaking through her skirt. She is anxious about standing up.”
“We have no new arts strategy in the North, while, in the South, serious efforts were made to rebuild the sector following COVID. Arts funding here has suffered real-terms cuts of around 40%, while funding per capita in the South is around four times higher.”
“I, too, welcome the fact that this important legislation has reached its Second Stage. Like the Chair of the Committee, I thank the Committee for its hard work, and I thank the Committee Clerk, the Bill Office and the legal team for getting us to this point.”
“I thank the Member for that, and, again, I could not agree more. Would any of us accept not being able to wear a coat in the pouring rain or the freezing cold when we walk in here? I do not think so. <BR /> <BR />A girl should not have to ask for permission to wear trousers.”
“When the Assembly returned, I had intended to introduce a private Member's Bill to make school uniforms more comfortable for pupils and more affordable for their families. The Minister, however, indicated that he planned to address the issue himself, so I was unable to progress that legislation.”
“Across the North, many girls still do not have the automatic right to wear trousers to school. Instead, they find themselves having to seek permission, request exemptions or rely on the goodwill of individual schools. I have heard the Minister use that as an excuse for why this legislation is not needed.”
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“Under the Committee's upcoming proposals, the recently agreed unacceptable behaviours policy will, instead, be the enforceable rule for that type of misconduct. <BR /> <BR />I shall now explain the Committee's reasoning in relation to the recommended sanction in deciding on a proportionate, appropriate and justified sanction to recommend to the Assembly. The Committee had regard to all the circumstances of the case, including, first, that Mr Gaston's conduct took place in a public Committee session and therefore his statements could reach a wide audience and have reputational consequences for Ms Bradshaw; secondly, the particular nature of the breaches of rules 15 and 13; and, thirdly, the fact that Mr Gaston had not accepted that he had breached the code.”
“In addition, the Executive Office Committee's own protocols emphasise the importance of courtesy and respect for each other, as well as for the authority of the Chairperson. From its review of the evidence, the Committee was clear that Mr Gaston's unprofessional behaviour and discourtesy was particularly pronounced and that the finding of a breach of rule 10 was also justified. <BR /> <BR />That said, the Committee did not factor that breach into its considerations in relation to its recommended sanction. That is because, as part of a wider package of recommended improvements to the MLA code, the Committee will be proposing to the Assembly that the behaviour code become a principle of conduct rather than a rule of conduct.”
“I should point out that that finding means that Mr Gaston is the first Member to have breached rule 13. In addition, the Committee agreed that Mr Gaston's conduct was inconsistent with various principles of conduct. <BR /> <BR />I will now turn briefly to the commissioner's finding that Mr Gaston also breached rule 10 on the basis that he failed to observe or comply with "policy, guidance or instructions" issued by the Assembly Commission, namely the behaviour code. The Assembly Commission's behaviour code”
“<BR /> <BR />After weighing up the various considerations, the Committee concluded that the "persistent, repetitive and excessive" nature of Mr Gaston's conduct meant that he crossed the threshold by acting in a way that improperly interfered, or was likely to improperly interfere, with the performance by the Executive Office Committee of its functions, and the performance by Ms Bradshaw of her duties as Chairperson. <BR /> <BR />Following careful assessment, the Committee upheld allegation 2 and concurred with the commissioner's finding that Mr Gaston breached rule 13. The Committee agreed with the commissioner's view that Mr Gaston's comments would not qualify for the protection afforded to freedom of speech under article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.”
“No, I will not. You will have your opportunity; you will have your 10 minutes. <BR /> <BR />Those questions did not pertain to the work of the Executive Office Committee and were clearly political and irrelevant. The Standards and Privilege's Committee was clear that Mr Gaston persisted, despite repeated requests from the Chairperson and advice by officials to stay on topic. It was also clear that Ms Bradshaw intervened in order to uphold the rules and to ensure the proper functioning of the Executive Office Committee.”
“The Committee examined whether Mr Gaston's conduct or behaviour improperly interfered with, or was likely to improperly interfere with the Executive Office Committee's performance of its functions or the performance by its Chairperson, Ms Bradshaw, of her duties. In particular, the Committee was clear from the evidence and its legal advice that Mr Gaston asked nine questions that did not pertain to the work —.”
“The Committee also concurred with the commissioner's conclusion that Mr Gaston's comment amounted to a "gratuitous personal" comment rather than political speech and that the finding of a breach was justified for the protection of the rights and reputation of Ms Bradshaw. <BR /> <BR />Allegation 2 is that Mr Gaston breached rule 13 of the code, which states:”
“Having assessed the evidence and the facts, the Committee agreed with the commissioner's conclusions that Mr Gaston's "Breathe" comment was an unreasonable and excessive personal attack on Ms Bradshaw that was in breach of rule 15. It was clear to the Committee that the comment, including the context in which it was made, was:”
“Ms Bradshaw's authority as TEO Committee Chairperson —”
“The Committee noted, in particular, the commissioner's conclusions that that comment was "unreasonable and excessive" as it, first:”
“The conduct in question was Mr Gaston's directive to Ms Bradshaw to:”
“I should also point out that the evidence in relation to the points to prove for each rule is not in dispute; it is direct evidence in the form of official video footage of the applicable TEO Committee proceedings. On commencing their adjudication of the case, the members of the Committee viewed the video footage for themselves. <BR /> <BR />I will outline the Committee's consideration and conclusions on each of the alleged breaches of the code. Allegation 1 is that Mr Gaston breached rule 15 of the code, which states:”
“<BR /> <BR />Before summarising the outcome of the complaint, I emphasise, at the outset, that it would have been easy for the Committee to have gone down a rabbit hole in the case and become distracted with issues relating to the wider business of the Committee for the Executive Office. Instead, on commencing its work, the Committee was clear that its focus would be on considering the facts of the case in relation to the points to prove within the applicable rules of conduct that were alleged to have been breached. Ultimately, that is what the Committee's decision-making was based upon, as explained in its report. I encourage Members to maintain the same focus during their contributions to the debate.”
“If the motion is approved, Mr Gaston will be unable to participate in plenary proceedings on Tuesday 3 and Monday 9 February. He will also be unable to table any business or attend any Committee meetings if they happen to be scheduled to take place on those days. <BR /> <BR />The Committee's adjudication report details its considerations and conclusions on the complaint by Ms Paula Bradshaw against Mr Gaston regarding his conduct during proceedings of the Committee for the Executive Office during which Ms Bradshaw was in the Chair. Attached to the report are the report of the investigation of the independent Commissioner for Standards at the time, Dr Melissa McCullough, various written submissions from Mr Gaston and a copy of the statement that he made during his oral hearing with the Committee.”
“I welcome the opportunity to open the debate on the motion from the Committee on Standards and Privileges. The motion calls on the Assembly to impose on Mr Timothy Gaston MLA:”
“I thank the Minister for the information that she has provided on this important initiative. We should all be behind anything that we can do to reduce road traffic collisions. The Minister outlined some of the evidence behind the introduction of graduated driver licensing. Will she give us more detail on how that evidence is being used to inform her approach?”
“That left parents constantly refreshing their phones, unsure about childcare, work or whether it was safe to send their children to school at all. It especially impacted on families who have children in more than one school. <BR /> <BR />That responsibility should never have landed on the shoulders of school-leaders. It belongs to the Education Minister and the Education Authority. It was a complete abdication of responsibility. With proper planning, coordination with the Met Office and clear, timely decisions, that stress and uncertainty did not need to happen. Once again, when leadership was required from the Education Minister and the EA, it did not come. The safety of pupils and staff must always come first.”
“First, fair play to the school-leaders who had to make swift, difficult decisions this morning and yesterday to close their schools to protect pupils and staff. Those decisions were not easy, and they should not have had to make them alone. Equally, we have to recognise that not every school can make that call as easily. Different locations, transport issues, staffing pressures and access routes all matter. That is exactly the point. <BR /> <BR />The inconsistency and confusion could have been avoided if the Education Authority (EA) had stepped up and shown leadership. Instead, responsibility was pushed aside, and principals were told to assess conditions locally, with no clear direction, limited information and no coordinated approach.”
“School-leaders already wear many hats. They are educators, sometimes counsellors, carers and often managers. It now seems that they are expected to be weathermen and women, too. <BR /> <BR />We have seen amber and yellow weather warnings right across the North, particularly impacting on the east.”
“Minister, what we witnessed last June was nothing short of appalling. I will say this in my role as Deputy Chair of the Communities Committee. Minister, your attempts to paint yourself as a victim of — in your words — a "political pile on" are absolutely disgraceful and simply not credible. People see it for what it is. Surely you can accept how insulting that is to the actual victims — those who were subjected to those disgusting, violent and racist attacks.”
“Minister, you mentioned the RAISE programme in answer to an earlier question. How much of the initial £20 million that was earmarked for RAISE has been spent to date? What evaluation of the programme has taken place or will take place?”
“Those responses show the importance of all Departments working together not only to reduce damage from extreme weather but to support our communities to recover and rebuild. When storms and extreme weather strike, every Department needs to step up and play its part. We are better when we work together, as we always see. That means not only delivering the interventions that are required to prevent destruction and damage but intervening and helping communities to recover and rebuild after disaster strikes.”
“Despite extremely challenging circumstances, the resilience of our small and family-owned local businesses and remarkable community spirit shone through when everyone came together to support one another. We saw the former Economy Minister, Conor Murphy's, announcement of the flood support scheme, which provided vital relief to small and family traders, helping them to restore their premises and continue serving their communities. I also acknowledge the work of former Infrastructure Minister, John O'Dowd, who laid important groundwork. Of course, I also thank the current Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, for her continued engagement and, I have to say, compassion for the residents and businesses in Newcastle and Downpatrick as she has listened to the concerns and worked to prevent a repeat of such devastating floods.”
“Just today, we have seen the shocking figures that show that housing waiting times in South Down are the longest in the North. Some families are having to wait approximately 45 months. That leaves families who are already in vulnerable living arrangements at risk of having no safe shelter during storms. I think that everyone will agree that that is not acceptable in this day and age. We need the Communities Minister to work alongside everyone to ensure that emergency accommodation is available always, but, at the very least, when we see extreme conditions. <BR /> <BR />We are still dealing with the aftermath of the devastating flooding that affected Downpatrick and Newcastle in 2023. It had a severe impact on the whole local area.”
“The lack of clear and timely communication caused chaos for schools and families. There needs to be better communication and coordination between the Department of Education and the Met Office in preparation for school closures across South Down. <BR /> <BR />When extreme weather conditions cause a threat to those who are homeless — something that we saw during the recent cold snap — the Department for Communities, the Housing Executive and our councils must be able to enact their severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) to protect those who are most vulnerable. The reality is that, at present, there is not sufficient emergency accommodation across the North to ensure that every person can access safe and local emergency accommodation if and when they need it.”
“As Diane mentioned, we are fortunate to have the strong support of our local community and, particularly, the Newcastle regional community resilience group, which provided vital communication throughout the flooding, and, of course, the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, which, in that instance, brought a stranded hiker down to safety from the Mournes. <BR /> <BR />Whilst great strides have been made to protect homes and businesses, there are, of course, lessons that need to be learned by all Departments so that they can ensure that they are ready and able to respond to storm and flood risks, especially in South Down. That applies across the board. We must ensure that lessons are learned in order to aid recovery. Lessons must be learned from the Education Minister and EA's delays in closing schools during storm Amy.”
“At the early stages of the potential flooding, the Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, acted swiftly to make sure that upwards of 1,200 extra sandbags were made available to prevent flood damage to households in that area. DFI Roads and Rivers officials were on the ground monitoring water levels at Shimna river and clearing large stones and debris to help relieve the rising water. The advice from the Infrastructure Minister was consistent, and immediate action was taken to prevent extreme flood damage. I pay tribute to those DFI Rivers and Roads officials and, of course, our council staff, who are always on the ground battling the elements during such events.”
“First, I thank Diane Forsythe for securing the Adjournment debate. Extreme weather is no longer the exception; it is our reality, and it is our reality in South Down. As has been mentioned, the Downpatrick flood in 2023 and the recurring flooding in Newcastle have caused concern and fear among the local community. I mention Downpatrick and Newcastle specifically, but, of course, many areas and many homes are at risk of localised flooding, and those are areas that have never flooded before. <BR /> <BR />There is a clear need for all Departments to tailor their responses, with the frequency and severity of extreme weather events making that increasingly clear. Many homes in Newcastle were only millimetres away from being flooded again in October last year.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Does the Minister agree that delivering a multi-year Budget for the first time in years is vital for providing certainty for public services and allowing the community and voluntary sector to plan ahead and that it is an opportunity that should not be missed?”
“Will the Minister assure parents that the school uniform legislation will reduce costs? For example, will a school uniform that cost £500 last year cost much less this year?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. In a previous answer on this issue, he mentioned an all-island approach. What would that be? What work has he undertaken with his counterpart in the South to try to tackle the issue?”
“Minister, there has obviously been a lot of coverage of this, but there has been no guidance from your Department for schools and boards of governors. Will you give them the guidance that they need to ensure that they are compliant with the legal ruling and give them the confidence that they are doing things right?”
“What work is being done by the Executive Office to help build a society that is free from the scourge of sectarianism, racism and intolerance?”
“I thank everyone for their contributions to the debate.”
“Children need physical space, however, but they also need the time to enjoy it. Jon Burrows mentioned that the ongoing curriculum review presents an opportunity to allow that to happen, but schools need the resources to do that. We must now see the development of an outdoor learning in schools strategy in conjunction with the sector in order to give our children and young people the very best start to their educational pathway. <BR /> <BR />There is a broad consensus. David Brooks mentioned the Department of Education's financial pressures, as did the Minister, but it is very important to take into consideration that we are not solely talking about financial aid here. We are talking about the Department having the will to put a focus on this. Across the board, we heard about the importance of children getting outside and learning.”
“Absolutely, I agree with that. We have so many community and voluntary organisations that are willing to step in and help to aid young people's education, and that is really important. <BR /> <BR />Outdoor play and learning introduces new challenges that encourage risk-taking in safe ways and supports independent play, whilst also prompting classmates to collaborate, explore together, share ideas and knowledge, and enhance their social skills, as Michelle Guy mentioned. When students have the ability to work through obstacles, they strengthen their independence and resilience, and that lays the groundwork for the confidence that is needed in order to handle tough situations later in life. We have seen great examples of that in many of our schools, and Gary Middleton mentioned the great example in his children's school.”
“The freedom to move and explore stimulates curiosity and interest, allowing children and young people to explore, investigate and ask questions about the world around them. Colin McGrath, who is no longer in the Chamber, mentioned two great examples of that in my constituency. It is disheartening that we no longer have the Ardnabannon site and that the Tollymore centre is now under threat. <BR /> <BR />Taking classroom learning to the outside world makes subjects that are normally found only in a textbook come to life. The learnings of science, maths or geography can come to life right in front of our eyes. Learning should be immersive and engaging and should, of course, stimulate curiosity and interest.”
“It really was a welcome step outside, offering a breath of fresh air. You can imagine the impact that that would have on children who are in a classroom all day. <BR /> <BR />Part of the focus of that conference was on play-based learning, engaging with how a play-based curriculum can help raise children and young people's educational outcomes. The view amongst the sector that day was very clear: there is an overwhelming need for outdoor play-based learning in our education system. As we in the Committee have seen for ourselves, outdoor learning is great for children's mental health and well-being. Fresh air and natural sunlight; what more could you need? In that regard, Cara Hunter specifically mentioned resilience, school attendance and regulation.”
“I welcome the opportunity to make a winding-up speech on this motion from the Education Committee. I am not quite sure that I would have foreseen that we would be discussing the Norman invasion, culchies and townies, Bear Grylls and air rifles, but I suppose that that shows the impact that outdoor learning can have on a child's imagination. <BR /> <BR />Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend a Playboard conference, entitled "School Age Childcare: The Journey — The Future". The conference brought together practitioners, educators, leaders and providers from across the play-based school-age sector, including the forest school leaders, who had us lighting fires, sawing pieces of wood and hammering nails. I am not quite sure that I channelled my inner Bear Grylls, but I certainly got my hands dirty.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.”
“Minister, in the absence of any substantial reforms in today's statement, what immediate actions will you take to ensure that there is support for small businesses such as the independent brewers and micro-pubs?”
“Minister, you said that you intend to bring proposals to the Executive on greater utilisation of public land. Have you carried out any analysis of the amount of land that could be used for housing? Which Departments or other bodies will provide the bulk of that land?”
“The Department of Education and the Department for Communities need to step up, strengthen their plans and start putting families first. Workers and families need action, not excuses; leadership, not deflection; and real support, not weak draft strategies. People need hope, and they need it now.”
“It needs to make urgent interventions so that organisations on the ground are properly supported and low-income families are not left to shoulder the crisis alone. <BR /> <BR />Families are not asking for the earth. Every weak decision, delay and missed opportunity by the Department lands directly on a family's kitchen table when it comes to the food that they struggle to afford, the school meals that they now cannot pay for, the heating that they ration and the childcare bill that wipes out their wages. Workers and families deserve better than the draft anti-poverty strategy. That is why we tabled the motion and support the amendment, which we feel adds to the motion. <BR /> <BR />The cost-of-living crisis is real and urgent.”
“Across our communities, food prices have soared, fuel poverty is deepening, and more families are turning to food banks, including many who never imagined that they would need that help. Our voluntary and community organisations, a number of which we met this morning, are holding the line and stepping in where immediate support is needed. They do incredible work, but they do it with such limited resources and rising demand. <BR /> <BR />That is why the anti-poverty strategy really matters. However, the draft that was published by the Minister for Communities simply does not match the scale of the crisis. It lacks measurable targets, clear actions and the urgency that families are crying out for.”
“It has come about as a result of years of chronic underfunding by the British Government, along with years of poor decisions in the Department of Education and a complete lack of leadership from the current Minister. Families simply cannot take another blow, yet, under this Education Minister, the blows seem to keep coming. The cost of school meals is up, while uniform costs are still sky high. Childcare pressures are rising, and more and more parents are now being asked for so-called voluntary school contributions. That is what happens when a Department fails to plan, fails to prioritise and fails to protect families. <BR /> <BR />Of course, it is not solely about what is happening in education.”
“The cost of living continues to rise, and families across the North are feeling it every single day. Inflation sits at 3·8% higher than the EU average and nearly double the Bank of England's target. What does that mean exactly? It means that families are afraid to turn on their heating, that food costs are rising week after week and that the cost of school uniforms is pushing parents into debt. In the middle of all that pressure, as the amendment alludes to, the Education Authority has increased the price of school meals to £3·10 a day. That is a decision that will hit already stretched households hard. That equates to £20 a month extra for each child's school meals. For many families, that is simply not within their budget. Let me be very clear about how that has come about.”
“Minister, you have just said that we should listen to school leaders. Day in, day out, we are contacted by school leaders, who tell us just how stretched they are. A number of weeks ago, the EA sent them a letter to tell them to tighten the purse strings. We have heard about teachers spending their own money on resources, and now we hear the statement about cuts. Meanwhile, we have heard about all the wastage in the EA, such as money being spent on taxi journeys. How can you stand here and justify that? Will you listen to school leaders?”
“It is vital that families and young people are not locked out of the opportunity to live in the communities in which they grew up. Safeguarding future generations is key to protecting the fabric of our rural, coastal and small communities. The Communities Minister should, as a priority, work at pace to deliver more social and affordable housing.”
“We need to see cross-cutting action that will make a real impact in addressing rising housing pressure. <BR /> <BR />Rural communities across South Down need to be able to access affordable and social housing. As of June 2025, there were 3,994 people on the social housing waiting list. Of those, 3,355 were experiencing housing stress. We need to be creative. We need solutions to develop affordable and social homes in areas such as Newcastle, Downpatrick, Castlewellan and across South Down and, indeed, the North. I have been working recently with Clanmil on the transformation of the old Downe Hospital site into much-needed family homes in the heart of Downpatrick. We need to see more of that creative thinking. Working with housing organisations and other groups is key to building more affordable social housing.”