Kate Nicholl
South Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for her humanity and her leadership. Many of the asylum seekers with whom I work do not fit into the illegal immigrant narrative; indeed, one woman with whom I worked was sold as a Daesh bride and was prostituted every day for two years, with her child often present.”
“It is a local number, and it has a chat function that people can use if they do not feel comfortable speaking directly. There is also an amazing charity called the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC).”
“On behalf of the Alliance Party, I recognise the extraordinary and remarkable bravery and courage of the two victims. Yesterday's verdict will not undo the harm that was done to them, but, hopefully, it sends a clear recognition that what happened was wrong and that Jeffrey Donaldson will feel the full weight of the law.”
“I thank the Member for that answer. Recently, we held the national allergy strategy launch in the Long Gallery. I thank the catering team, led by Alan, for how well they dealt with that.”
“They have done so much for so many people in Northern Ireland, and we wish them well. They have gone through a difficult period. We hope that there is healing from this as they go forward.”
“The comments were violent and at a different level from anything that I have seen before. <BR /> <BR />We are in a difficult place right now. This destabilises our democracy. It is easy to believe lies when you are angry, and I am not sure what we do about it.”
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“First, I disassociate myself from the comments that were directed to the Member, telling her to sit down. It is appalling that she was spoken to in that manner. <BR /> <BR />I talked about the need for Ministers to speak with one voice. I understand perfectly that, as my colleague said, it is not about morality — there are different opinions on it — but about how, practically, we can put positions in place. Our points are really around the need for an international relations strategy and ethical framework, so that we can find a way forward. <BR /> <BR />The way in which you have been spoken to while delivering your speech is appalling.”
“I could not agree more with my colleague. I have two work experience students in my office, Oisin and Lewis. They were doing some work on my research today, and that was their point: if we step away from the rules-based order, we are very much at risk. We must stand for human rights, uphold international law and ensure that the voices of the Iranian people are central to any peaceful future.”
“The US does not seem to know what it will do tomorrow, never mind having a long-term plan for the peace and prosperity of the Iranian people. I do not know about you, but it feels as though we are on the edge of something now in the world and that, once we go beyond it, we may not come back very quickly. I feel scared about the state of the world and where we are, and the only way that we can come back from that is by having dialogue, adhering to international law, engaging in diplomacy and embedding our common humanity back into the centre of politics at all levels. We are all on this one planet together, you know? We all have our common humanity, but we lose sight of that so often, and, when we lose sight of our humanity, awful things happen.”
“<BR /> <BR />We support parts of the UUP amendment, including the importance of recognising human rights abuses in Iran and support for the armed forces. However, the removal of the call for an immediate end to the conflict indicates that the strikes are justified, and that means that we cannot support the amendment, particularly because it also removes the statement about the self-determination of the Iranian people. For us, that is incredibly important. <BR /> <BR />I spoke about how I have been working with the Iranian community. They are our constituents, and we have responsibilities to engage with their concerns and advocate on their behalf. It is so important that the future of the Iranian people remains in the hands of the Iranian people. There is no long-term plan for what will happen next for Iran.”
“This is what you need". We need to have a plan for how we talk about these things with one voice. That leadership is so important. We will have different opinions on different policies, but, when it comes to international relations, we really need a strategy for how we operate on the international stage. That would provide a solid basis for engagement on an ethical basis. I have already spoken about the need for a clear and unified approach and the fact that people want to see their political leaders working together for the common good, especially on significant international issues. We are contacted by constituents every day who want us to use our platform to speak out for human rights in whatever way we can.”
“You can hold those two views at the same time, and we should. We should be able to condemn the US/Israeli strikes and the retaliatory strikes conducted by Iran across the region. That is what, we felt, was missing from the original motion, and we thought that it was important to include that. <BR /> <BR />There is another point that I want to make clear, and we have included it in our amendment. It is about the lack of an international relations strategy. It is true that we have different views on things; we know that well. However, we have one Executive, and we need to speak with one voice. That is why Michelle O'Neill was not right to be out of that meeting. You cannot be a Minister for all and not be in the room. My constituents just wanted their Executive to speak with one voice and say, "Here is the information.”
“I have seen people celebrating across the world, and I understand why. When you have lived under an oppressive regime and have had family members murdered by that regime and you are given an ounce of hope, you will, of course, cling to that. Who has replaced him? His son. It will just be more and more of the same. <BR /> <BR />I completely understand that point, and I believe that we should listen to people. How many times have I spoken here about the Palestinian people? Members have said, "What about Sudan?", so I organised an event with members of the Sudanese community, but no one came to it. I talk to people and listen to their lived experiences, and that is how I take my positions. I completely agree that the Iranian regime is guilty of some of the worst possible things, but what America has done is also awful.”
“You just need to listen to Trump officials to hear six different rationales for the bombing of Iran. It is nonsensical.”
“What he went through was an example of the very worst of what people can do to one another. The Iranian regime is responsible for committing some of the worst atrocities on its people, particularly women. I have met Iranian women here. What they have been through is incomprehensible. You can condemn what has happened to Iranian people — you should — but, at the same time, you can condemn the US and Israel's attack on Iran. <BR /> <BR />This is a Trump war. The ayatollah was an 86-year-old man. There had been planning for his succession for a long time. There are wars and human rights violations going on everywhere else in the world. Let us not kid ourselves: this is about power and oil, not saving the people of Iran. If it were about that, they would have had a plan in place. There was no plan.”
“As a place that has benefited from the time and consideration of other countries, it is important that we speak with one voice about peace. <BR /> <BR />We have a tendency to view conflict through the lens of our own understanding of it. That is a human instinct, but, as legislators, we should not do that. Everything that we do should be rooted in our common values of a shared desire for peace, democracy and respect for human rights and international law. That is what the Alliance Party amendment seeks to clarify: multiple things can be true at once. <BR /> <BR />I have had the privilege of working with many Iranians in Northern Ireland. I went into the hotels many times; Gerry Carroll and I both did. I remember meeting an Iranian man who had been a prisoner for a number of years. I saw his medical records.”
“We were also in touch with members of our community whose family members were there and had no idea what the future held. It was a scary time for them. The driving up of energy and fuel prices for households and businesses here is another example of why it is relevant. I also remind Members that members of those communities live here. They are our constituents, and they want us to speak up. <BR /> <BR />There is another point that we do not focus on often. Often, the Galleries are filled with visitors from countries all over the world, such as Colombia and Palestine — places that are experiencing conflict. They come to learn from how we do politics here. They come to see how, since the Good Friday Agreement, we have learned, despite our diametrically opposed views on so many things, to work together.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to speak. <BR /> <BR />There has been a lot of criticism recently about the Assembly focusing on international issues. Members know that we talk about many issues. It is important that we have those discussions. It is important for a number of reasons. The reality is that we cannot separate ourselves from global events that directly affect us. What happens across the world invariably reaches into our communities, and the war that is happening in the Middle East is a stark example. It is affecting our citizens who are living and travelling in the region. I know that many MLAs, including me, were in touch with people who were on holiday in Dubai. They were suddenly fearful and wondered how they were going to get back.”
“Every child in every school should have access to a school hall, and the EA now needs to resolve the situation as a matter of urgency.”
“We do not have a clear timeline outlining when and how the matter will be resolved. Deadlines have been missed, and essential reports have been delayed. The school is in a state of prolonged uncertainty. It has had to go to the media to raise as much awareness as possible to try to get the matter dealt with. <BR /> <BR />The school is asking for four simple things: a clear and transparent update on the status of the project; confirmation of allocated funding; a defined timeline for permanent remediation; and accountability for the delays that have brought the matter to this point. The school has not apportioned blame to anyone. Its focus is on securing a timely and sustainable solution for the children of the school.”
“The principal, who is new to the school, feels that he has not had the chance to address the community as a whole. One parent told me that her child is now in P2 and has never been in the school hall; she said that her child does not even know where it is. There are no performances or shared community events, and the ongoing disruption to timetabling and curriculum delivery is having an impact. We all know what it was like when we were at primary school. We all have memories of being part of plays and being with children of other ages. At the moment, Rosetta Primary School's children are being denied that. <BR /> <BR />There has been extensive engagement with the Education Authority (EA), including site visits, repeated correspondence and assurances of reports that never materialise.”
“Rosetta Primary School is a cornerstone of that part of south Belfast. For the past number of years, its school hall has been closed, owing to significant structural concerns about the roof. I met Mr McGarrigle recently and saw the hall for myself. There is a padlocked door and steel poles propping up the roof. I was told that concerns about the condition of the roof were first raised nine years ago, but, since 2023, access has been restricted because of rain. The hall is now not used. It is not safe, and no permanent solution has been delivered. <BR /> <BR />Parents, staff and the community have been asking us, as elected representatives, what we can do about it. The impact on parents and staff has been profound. There is no appropriate space for indoor PE. There are no assemblies or whole-school gatherings.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I wrote to him on behalf of a constituent who was impacted on by the delays in breast cancer waiting lists. The two-week target is crucial for so many reasons, particularly life expectancy. The Minister said in his response that the temporary delays were linked partly to the roll-out of Encompass. Have those issues been resolved? When will Encompass speed up, rather than slow down, the process?”
“I also apologise for missing the start of the Minister's statement. Thank you for your update, Minister. So much positive and ambitious work is happening in this space, but the right people with the right skills will be required to deliver. What conversations have you had about that and plans to deliver?”
“<BR /> <BR />The petitioners call on the Department for Infrastructure to take three straightforward and reasonable steps: to carry out an urgent pedestrian safety assessment of the location; to improve street lighting in order to eliminate dangerous dark spots; and to upgrade or install pedestrian crossing facilities that reflect the level of use in the area. Those proportionate measures are aimed solely at preventing harm and are ultimately about protecting life. The people who signed the petition are not asking for anything excessive, only that that busy local road be made safer for everyone who uses it. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to present the petition to the Assembly today and ask that it be forwarded to the Department for Infrastructure for careful consideration.”
“There are significant dark spots owing to insufficient street lighting, and those are particularly noticeable during the evenings, winter months and periods of poor weather, making it harder for drivers to see pedestrians and more difficult for pedestrians to cross the road safely. Residents have also raised concerns that the existing pedestrian crossing arrangements are not sufficient for the volume of people using the stretch of road, leading to frequent near misses and understandable anxiety over the risk of a serious accident. The urgency of the petition comes in the wake of the death of a constituent from Carryduff who was killed on that road. So many people signed the petition in her memory to ensure that such a death never happens again. Our thoughts are very much with her family and friends.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I present the petition on behalf of residents and road users in Carryduff who are deeply concerned about pedestrian safety along a stretch of road beside the Eurospar. This is not a party political petition. It was started by my Alliance Party colleague Councillor Jamie Harpur, but it has the support of colleagues from across the political spectrum, and that is because it concerns a practical and urgent road safety matter that has been raised by people — parents, older residents, young people, shoppers and those accessing nearby services — who use the area every day. <BR /> <BR />The section of road experiences very high footfall alongside steady vehicle traffic. The current road layout, however, does not adequately protect pedestrians.”
“When will it start to feel easier for those who are experiencing the childcare crisis?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I also thank his officials, who have been doing so much work on the issue. I declare an interest, as I avail myself of the Northern Ireland childcare subsidy scheme for my family. <BR /> <BR />Every day, I hear from parents who either have had either to reduce their hours at work or have had to leave the workforce altogether. In some of the saddest cases, people have chosen not to have the children they have longed for. I hear from providers that are struggling with recruitment and retention, and they all want me to ask the Minister the same thing: when will it start to feel easier? They know that so much work is being done and that it is a priority across parties, but they are not feeling its impact. In fact, they are feeling even more stretched.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. There is so much in the Bill about flexible working, parental leave and care, as well as updating employment legislation. The fact that the drafting has not been finished is causing a lot of concern. Is the Minister confident that we will see the full passage of the legislation in this mandate?”
“I do not need to say, "Happy birthday" to the Minister, because I did it on Instagram.”
“Will the Minister update the House on the development and implementation of smart metering?”
“Seeing how to make it more accessible will always be important.”
“It would be wonderful if the Minister could take the opportunity to give us an update on that. <BR /> <BR />Data is about quality. It is not just about waiting times or, as Danny said, activity. It is about outcomes. The Assembly should absolutely be ambitious, but we should also be practical. We need to develop a long-term integrated data system. That is a matter not just for Health but for all the Departments. There is so much work that we need to do and that we can do, especially when finances are so constrained. It is so important to see how we can work better together to share information and design long-term policy solutions. <BR /> <BR />I really welcome the motion. Mental health services deserve better data, as do the staff and, most important, the patients and families. Ultimately, data is about transparency and accountability.”
“That is proof that progress is possible when we choose to use the tools that we already have. The question is not about whether we need a perfect system; it is about whether we are willing to use the imperfect but valuable data that we already hold to improve lives now. <BR /> <BR />One question that keeps coming up is about the legislation on the secondary use of data. I have tabled a question for written answer to the Minister about that, and it is wonderful that he is here. There was an indication that that legislation would be introduced in the Assembly in early 2026, which is now. Some people have said that, without the legislation and clear legal permission for linking and using health data, no matter how sophisticated a new system is, it will never be able to deliver what we need.”
“We can create policy solutions for the future through larger datasets. I would really love for all of you to join that all-party group, because it is so interesting. <BR /> <BR />There were concerns about creating a single, standardised mental health data system. Encompass will eventually be transformative, but, as the PAC report stated, even if the solution comes in five or 10 years, it cannot help us today, because it does not capture the large volume of work delivered by the community and voluntary sector. Waiting for Encompass alone is not realistic or responsible. In the meantime, we can do more things with what we have. We can be more creative in how we link up. We heard from someone who works in the trust, and there has been really innovative work with the Prison Service.”
“This morning, at a meeting of the all-party group on policy and public data, we looked specifically at homelessness. As with all such issues, it is intersectional. It is not about just one thing; there are so many elements. Colin touched on that, and we see it when we look at prisons. There are so many factors that come into play, so we need to look at the full data. One of the researchers at the meeting made a really good point: he said that the motion is really good and that it provides an insight into how we, as policymakers, view things. We see that there is an issue with waiting lists, and we need the data so that we can address it. However, when those in the research community look at data, they do not look just at the problem in the here and now; they look at why there is an issue and at its root causes.”
“I listened to Dr Aideen Maguire talking about data and how we are so data rich in Northern Ireland — it is captured from the minute that we are born until the minute that we die — but because each Department is, ultimately, a kind of silo, we do not share the information. We could produce the best policy solutions to all the most pressing issues that we have in society if we were to use those larger datasets responsibly. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to mental health, we are not short of data but short of access to it. There is rich data sitting in each trust on referrals, bed occupancy, crisis presentations, waiting lists, community support, addiction services and spend versus demand, but because that information is held in silos, you cannot see the full picture.”
“A lot of people have said that it is not about data but about services. I actually want to talk a little bit about the data. I welcome the motion. It identifies a problem that has held Northern Ireland back for so long, which is that we cannot improve mental health services without accurate, consistent and accessible mental health data. Right now, we simply do not have it. <BR /> <BR />I chair the all-party group on policy and public data. I have a real interest in how we improve our collection, use and links to the information that we have. Secretariat support is provided by the Administrative Data Research Centre. I will be really honest: when I was first approached about the group, I thought that it sounded so boring. Then, I attended the first meeting.”
“At last week's meeting, members of the Sudanese community here spoke at length about the importance of providing more aid to civilians in Sudan. Over 33 million people, which is more than two thirds of the populace, need basic support.”
“Last week, the all-party group on international development had a moving event with members of the Sudanese community in Northern Ireland. They said that they feel forgotten, so I said that I would read some of their words to the Chamber. This is what they said:”
“<BR /> <BR />Secondly, I am conscious that, while we talk about historical clerical abuse and look at what is happening now, many people who were perhaps abused as children are living in silence now. I want to say to them that there is a victims-led charity called the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. So much of the issue is about the silence that people live with, and them then coming forward to talk about what they experienced but not being treated in the way that they should be. There is a charity there to help those people. <BR /> <BR />Safer Internet Day is more than just a reminder about screens and apps; it is a reminder of our collective duty to challenge the systems that are in place —”
“We need to strengthen digital literacy and promote existing tools to keep children safe. <BR /> <BR />There are two things that I want to highlight today, which I previously was not aware of. The first is a really important tool that every parent, teacher, youth worker and politician needs to know about. Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation have created the Report Remove tool, which allows any child or young person to request the secure removal of an online image of themselves that they are worried about or did not consent to. That is a really practical and accessible safeguard that every parent, teacher and youth worker should be aware of.”
“<BR /> <BR />History has taught us time and time again that abuse is enabled by silence, by environments where those with influence go unchecked and by deference. I worry that, while it is good that we are having these conversations and things are coming out more into the open about child abuse that has been happening, what is happening online is being monetised, and that is increasing. There are certain things that we can do; my party leader is doing what she can on deepfakes, and I plan to bring forward an amendment to the Justice Bill to ban nudification apps. However, there is so much more that we have to do as a society, and that means empowering families and having difficult conversations about the reality of power and the reality of child abuse that exists.”
“Today is Safer Internet Day. The risk that children and young people face online is something that I think about every day. The latest research from CyberSafeKids in the Republic of Ireland shows how children are navigating digital platforms with limited safeguards, limited parental oversight and limited privacy protections. Those findings sit within a wider societal reality. The one thing that I keep thinking is that, every day, there is more news about the Epstein files and more discussion of the abuse and the salaciousness around it. It is really awful, dark content. It is such a reminder that, when power goes unchecked and children are not protected, the darkest side of humanity really flourishes.”
“Building alliances and connections and working with and trusting people are not weaknesses but strengths. We need to do more of that. <BR /> <BR />I urge Members to support the motion, to move beyond old arguments and to focus on what works: a genuine partnership with our neighbours in Europe that puts jobs, growth and people first. Backing a UK-EU customs union would send a strong message that cooperation and good trade agreements are not weaknesses but are very much strengths.”
“We are a cross-community party. We want our public services to work. We want life to be easier for people. We want our children to have opportunities and to be able to respect and embrace cultures across the board. When Members bring every debate back to that constitutional question, it does a disservice to the actual issues; it distracts from the issues that people face. Right now, the issue that people are facing that we are trying to deal with is the inability of businesses to trade as well they could and the need to make things easier for them. That is not just about Northern Ireland but about the UK in general. We need to move beyond the old arguments and division and to look at what works. Sinéad spoke so well on this: we live in a scary time when there is so much division, mistrust and fear.”
“That is their view. That is not our view.”
“It is so difficult for people who see only through a unionist and nationalist lens. We are a party of people with multiple identities and multiple ideas. Our core focus is on creating a shared future in which everyone can benefit. We want to be back in the EU: we see the benefit of that. The debate always comes back to that constitutional question, however, which is so abstract to me.”
“I will answer that question in a way that will give headlines: the Alliance Party is a cross-community party.”
“Our economy is growing. We have always been a trading region; we trade beyond our borders. I very much enjoyed Jonathan Buckley's referring to anyone else as having given an Oscar-winning performance, then going on to do similar. I did not agree with a single thing that he said, but I very much enjoyed his delivery.”
“In that Economy Committee meeting, officials said that a lot of businesses are afraid to come out and say that they are benefiting from dual market access because it is so polarised and has become so toxic. David loves to talk about the businesses in Lagan Valley that are benefiting from it, so let us do more to encourage more businesses to talk about it and to access its benefits. <BR /> <BR />Matthew said that he was here because of Brexit, and we are all delighted that he is here. Declan talked about the importance of the economy and said that it continues to show growth but still faces challenges, which is true. The resetting of relationships is important. I absolutely agree with his analysis of the Brexit genesis as being a Tory party issue. David Honeyford gave an enjoyable speech and gave the business perspective.”
“Ciara was solution-focused and talked about the importance of maximising dual market access; I absolutely agree. Eóin Tennyson said that the cost of Brexit is a cost to our public services — let us not forget that — and that agriculture is such an important example of how we work. He also said that the motion is just about being practical and taking a practical step to make things better and deal with some of the damage. I have addressed rigorous implementation very clearly. Diana talked about the "fiction" of dual market access and Invest NI's inability to list businesses that have benefited from it. So much of that is because we cannot promote or sell it.”
“Not you; I agree with everything that you say.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will mention some of the other things that were said. The only thing on which I agree with David is that the barriers to trade are unacceptable.”
“The phrase "rigorous implementers" is frequently used to insult Alliance. For anyone who does not know, the phrase "rigorous implementation" refers to a joint party letter that leaders wrote in September 2020 with regard to the Internal Market Bill and the threat of the UK Government's breaking international law in a limited and specific way. It was about stressing the importance of upholding existing agreements and international law more generally. Without those commitments, the task of fixing the issues with the protocol would have been impossible. The phrase "rigorous implementation" related to the UK Government's threatening to break international law; that is what it was about. If you use it again, I will know that you are being disingenuous and are just using it to play politics.”