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.”
The complete record
Every one of 677 lines we hold for Kate Nicholl, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 14.
“Trust needs to be rebuilt to allow us to vote for this legislation. Although we support the passage of the Second Stage, there remain questions that must be answered at Committee Stage.”
“We all agree that the RHI scheme needs to close, but we need to assure ourselves that there is sufficient trust in the system and the Department to deliver a rational, fair and efficient closure of the scheme. The Bill gives significant power to the Department without much clarity on what exactly it is going to do with that power. My colleague David Honeyford set that out in detail. Without the regulations in front of us, it is difficult to understand how the Department expects us to pass the Bill as it stands. I welcome the reassurance that the regulations will come to the Committee. It is on that basis that I am happy to support the Bill at this stage. We will need the Minister to provide the clarity that we need in the Committee and in the Chamber to give us confidence to move forward.”
“The Department calls the system "a common-sense approach", but, as several Members have set out, there are questions to be asked about the way in which the bands have been broken down. Under the proposed system, when an installation is operated for less than 50% but more than 5% of its historical heat output, the payment would be for 50% of the historical heat output. That means that someone using a boiler for 10% or even 6% of the time could be eligible for payments covering 50% of usage, as my colleague set out. <BR /> <BR />When officials came to brief the Committee on the Bill, I said that my main concern with the process was to do with trust.”
“Without rehearsing the arguments of the past number of years, it is really important to say at the outset that RHI has been an unmitigated disaster for Northern Ireland. It has been detrimental to our economy, to taxpayers and, ultimately, to faith in our politics and these institutions. It is a buzzword for failure, poor governance and collapse. The damage to public trust is perhaps one of the most enduring legacies of the RHI saga; it continues to plague our discussions around this Bill and the wider effort to close the scheme. <BR /> <BR />It is right and proper that good-faith boiler owners have a fair settlement that ensures that they are not unduly punished for the failures of the scheme as a whole. However, a lot more clarity needs to be provided on the banded nature of the proposed payments.”
“I am not an expert on the matter, but some organisations are. A colleague who works with St Vincent de Paul tells me that it comes up regularly. If the Minister's officials are going to engage on the matter, I ask that they engage with the voluntary and community sector, which supports people and may well have solutions for addressing it. It just seems senseless to me.”
“Has the Minister had any conversations with the Arts Council about any band or act's being involved in an activity that is perceived as being disrespectful to any tradition?”
“So often it is about, "You said this" and "You said that". Let us talk about the future. Let us talk about having an investment strategy that will work now and for future generations, because, I promise you, that is what people out there want to hear us talking about.”
“Given the size of Northern Ireland, we could do so much more of that. Casement Park, the A5, waste water and housing are not just good things to do in themselves; they are foundational for further economic development. Public infrastructure is a catalyst for further investment and gives innovators and business leaders confidence, but, too often, our lack of strategic investment in such projects has been a barrier. We have to turn that around. There was mention of the multi-year Budget, and that gives us a window of opportunity to plan and think ahead, but having an investment strategy really is urgent, and we need agreement and collaboration. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the motion, although we would change a few things in it. The one thing in particular that I would change is how we engage collectively on the issues.”
“It is important to have a pathway and a strategy that go hand in hand. The investment strategy has to lay out how we are going to meet our climate obligations. It is so important to decarbonise our economy. That should have been mentioned in the motion. <BR /> <BR />The Member also mentioned the Assembly's being up and down. The constant collapse of this place is such a problem. We are like a broken record when we talk about it. We will not be able to solve all the problems right now — no one expects that we will be able to do that in a shortened mandate — but we have to lay the foundations for that, and we have the opportunity to do so. It needs to be about partnership. I loved working in Belfast City Council, because we worked so well with the universities and with business. We were able to be ambitious and work together.”
“A point was made about that, but not tackling the climate crisis puts our infrastructure at risk. Any MLA in South Down and Upper Bann will be able to testify to that. It is counterproductive to pit the two against each other.”
“I can't afford it; there aren't enough houses", and, "How are we going to pay the bills?". Those are the conversations that people are having and that they want us to have, so I am grateful for the motion. It is forward-looking. Having a motion that looks to the future and at how we improve our infrastructure, not just now but for the future, is welcome. <BR /> <BR />As the Alliance Party, we obviously take issue with a few things, such as the language around "petty rows". We do not identify that with the work that Naomi Long and Andrew Muir are doing. We would have liked to see specific mention of net zero. The development of critical infrastructure must be balanced with our net zero commitments, and we would have liked that to be included in the motion.”
“When I came back from maternity leave, I decided that I would not rehash points that have already been made. There are a couple of reasons for that. The main one is that, having been in my glorious baby bubble, I now realise how little attention people pay to what we say in the Chamber. When we focus too much on politics rather than ambition, it turns people off. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Paula Bradshaw outlined, as always, perfectly the need for an investment strategy and the context behind it, but there are a couple of things that I wish to point out. When I was in my baby bubble, at the mum and tot groups, the conversations that I had and that I overheard were not about the culture wars of the day. They were these: "How will I afford to pay for childcare when I go back to work?", "How will I move into a new house?”
“There is so much division in our politics and world. We need to remember our humanity, and we need to do better.”
“<BR /> <BR />This is a moment of hope for Israelis and Palestinians. I watched on TV the hostages being released. I can only imagine what their families went through: the fear for their lives. I can only imagine what they went through. It is awful, but what has happened in Palestine — in Gaza — is also awful. We do not have to make it either/or; we can just make it about humanity. <BR /> <BR />Several Members and I went to a very moving house of mourning with the Palestinian community. It ended in Muslim and Christian prayer, because it is not only Muslims who have been killed; Christians have been killed as well. I hope that this is the start of better for the people in Palestine and Israel. The only way that we can have lasting peace is if there is a two-state solution and people work for our common humanity.”
“I do not know, maybe I have not read the Bible that recently, but I learned from it about love and humility, not judging, and the importance of treating people with kindness and respect. There is no justification for what has happened. <BR /> <BR />I started chairing an informal working group with members of the Palestinian community and interested MLAs and activists well over a year and a half ago. I remember a man who had just returned from Gaza coming to talk to us about what he had witnessed. It was harrowing. He talked about walking down a street with a child on his back and praying that the child would not see the dead bodies along the way. What sort of world are we living in where that happens; where children are exposed to that? What sort of world are we living in when politicians justify any violence?”
“A Jewish woman approached me a few years ago and said, "What is happening in Gaza is not an orange or green issue: it is a humanitarian issue". As a mother of three children, when I started engaging in the conversations around what was happening in Gaza, the real turning point for me was the death of Hind Rajab. I think about that almost every week. I do not say, "Thank you" to the murder in a car of a terrified child who was waiting to be rescued. I do not say, "Thank you" to anyone who is responsible for the death of any person. You can condemn what happened on 7 October and condemn the genocide that ensued at the same time. It does not have to be either/or. What strikes me about this is that, so often in this Chamber, we hear about Christian values.”
“The growth of AI firms and firms that make use of AI presents a real opportunity to create more evenly spread opportunities across the whole region. It is really great to see the AICC leading by example. <BR /> <BR />Regional balance must be delivered, but it needs to be holistic, and if there is one message that comes from my speech, I want it to be that. It requires a joined-up approach right across government, and we need to see more sustainable long-term opportunities and investment in all parts of Northern Ireland.”
“Its presence in Derry helps to serve businesses across the region, from what it describes as:”
“The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) outlined in its recent capability census:”
“Transport, education, health, housing, infrastructure and access to high-quality, affordable and flexible childcare are all vital. I am also not really sure that the word "balance" does this debate justice. Ultimately, it is about unlocking and releasing the full potential of all our parts of home and providing the best opportunities for all our people across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />As my colleague David said, for regional balance to be delivered, there has to be a joined-up, whole-of-government approach. That is not something that we are that good at in this place, but we are really good at innovation. In our tech sector, the connections between industry, academia and government perfectly position us to take advantage. Just look at the trailblazing success in cyber and screen. I am really interested in the potential of AI.”
“By way of regional imbalance, there is no way that he would have left Fermanagh if he could have helped it. I have benefited from it. We need to see fairness, fair distribution of investment and support for all people across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Regional balance is vital. I am an unapologetic champion for Belfast. It is and always will be a key economic driver for the region. It is the capital and is actively competing with other large cities across these islands for investment and exposure. However, we can and absolutely should have other economic drivers in the region, including Derry, the south-west, mid-Ulster and more. Regional balance is not just about economics. Economic levers without social and community infrastructure around them will not deliver the kind of sustainable region that we should be aiming for.”
“but this is the fourth time that I have spoken since coming back. One of the things that I did not say earlier today — the Minister is here now with members of her party — is that I am so sorry for the attack on your colleagues' office. I want to put that on record. <BR /> <BR />I am delighted to speak on the motion. Sinéad McLaughlin is the queen of regional balance and never misses an opportunity to champion it. I will not repeat a lot of what has been said, but there is one thing that I was thinking. Sometimes, regional balance and what it means gets lost in political discourse. For most people, it just means not having to move away from home to access good jobs, services or opportunities because those things are shared out more fairly. I am married to a Fermanagh man.”
“— I know that, if we are working for him, it is worth it.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am back, Mr Deputy Speaker, and more motivated than ever to work on the issues that really impact on family life: childcare, the cost of living and opportunities for the next generation. Those are the issues that unite us and that we can work on together. While I miss Dara so much today and feel really sad about it —”
“I am a little sad about it, I have to say. Rather than wearing the badge of honour of going back to work really early, this time I wear the badge of honour of focusing on my child and on me. I thank my amazing team, particularly Curtis Irvine, who held everything together. I also thank colleagues in the Chamber. So many people reached out to me from across the political spectrum to check on us. It was greatly appreciated. It has reminded me that caring is not a distraction from leadership; it is part of what makes us better at it. I hope that any woman MLA feels empowered to take whatever time they need when the time comes. I hope that more women see that you can have a young family and a career in politics, because, when our institutions reflect real life, we make better decisions for real people.”
“Back then, I wore that as a badge of honour because I had gone back to work so quickly, as though I were saying, "Look how dedicated I am to my job". It is only now that I see that, actually, I was undermining the importance of maternity leave. I feel so sad when I see that picture for Étaín, for me and for any mother whom I unwittingly put pressure on to feel that it was normal. Maternity leave matters. It matters for mums, babies and families, and it benefits society by promoting equality and helping women to stay in the workforce. Too many women face impossible choices between career and family. So much of that is due to the cost of childcare. That really has to change. <BR /> <BR />Six months ago, my husband, Fergal, and I welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Dara. It is his first day at day care today, and my first day back at work.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I feel as though I have been here for months now after this morning. <BR /> <BR />It is 2025, and I stand here as the first MLA to have taken proper maternity leave. New rules that allow proxy voting and maternity staff cover came in just before I went off. That support simply did not exist when I had my second child, Étaín. Back then, I had just finished my term as Lord Mayor of Belfast and had been elected to the Assembly, which was suspended. Even though we were not passing legislation or scrutinising in Committees, we were all still busy with casework in our constituency offices. There is a picture of me with Étaín, who is a week and a half old, and I am wearing her in a baby carrier.”
“It was wrong, and it was awful. We stand against antisemitism and hatred, and we always will. Our hearts go out to that community and to every Jewish person in this society who is living in fear as a result of that attack.”
“What happened in Manchester at Heaton Park synagogue was horrific, and I have no hesitation in condemning the antisemitism and hatred. My heart goes out to the entire congregation, particularly to Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, and to the incredibly brave people who saved countless lives. <BR /> <BR />I believe in our common humanity, and I believe that everyone should be treated equally and live in safety and peace. It is shameful to use such an awful attack to score political points. You can care about people on one side of the world and care about people in Manchester just as much. It is not an either/or. I am in politics because I care deeply about people and about peace, equality and humanity. I want to set the record completely straight by saying that I and my party completely condemn the attack in Manchester.”
“Real people are suffering, and, to them, the flotilla represented the fact that people care. I am inundated with messages every day from people from across my constituency who are desperate for us to do something. Real people are dying; real people are being impacted. I stand with my constituents and the people on the flotilla who are taking action when so many people feel helpless.”
“Thank you. I think that it is good to be back. Thank you very much, Principal Deputy Speaker; it is. I am really delighted to speak on this subject. Pat Sheehan and I have done quite a lot of work with the Palestinian community, and that is what I want to bring the issue back to. This is not an orange or green issue. There is a genocide going on. It is a humanitarian issue, and it is something that we need to speak out about. <BR /> <BR />One of the Palestinians whom I have been working with in Belfast has lost so many family members, and I knew that the narrative would be that this was a stunt, so I asked him what the flotilla meant to Palestinians. He said that, for four generations, his people have been suffering. He said:”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I commend the officials who have been engaging with residents and the community on this. Without integrated infrastructure to make cycling safer and more efficient, people will not make that transition to active travel. As well as the Stranmillis embankment work, what schemes is her Department taking forward to improve cycling infrastructure in South Belfast, and how will they be connected up to make journeys safer? I notice that Methody students are just coming into the Public Gallery, and this directly impacts them.”
“If we really harness it, we could really strengthen Northern Ireland's reputation as a dynamic hub for trade and innovation. Job creation and economic stability are good things, and we should embrace any opportunity that we can in that regard. Dual market access is one such opportunity. It seems as though we are cutting off our nose to spite our face when dual market access is something that we could be really proud of and really utilise. I do not understand why we cannot do that. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Opposition for tabling the motion. It is really important that we look inward but also focus on how we can sell outwards to grow our economy. It is not just about getting investment in; we need to be outward-looking and think about what Northern Ireland and the north-west have to sell to the world.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. The amendment refers to dual market access, as does the motion, so it is important that we have that discussion. <BR /> <BR />Dual market access is not mentioned in the Programme for Government — I wonder why. I wonder whether it may be because DUP Ministers have an issue with it. We have to be pragmatic here and not fall into the trap of taking some sort of ideological position, "We cannot talk about it because it is siding a bit too much with the EU". This is an amazing opportunity for us. It is not just about seamless trading between GB and the 27 EU member states. It gives our businesses a competitive edge and an opportunity to optimise supply chains, and embracing dual market access does not just strengthen and boost our business in the north-west and beyond.”
“My colleague will be able to reference some examples in his constituency where dual market access has been of benefit. The issue is that, when the Assembly is up, half of our Ministers will not sell it or talk about it; the other half of the time, the Assembly is down, so we are not able to promote it.”
“<BR /> <BR />I was going to talk a bit more about clustering, economic niche and the importance of cross-border collaboration, not just in the north-west but right across the border. In the Economy Committee, when we had representatives from the north-west, we saw the advanced work that they were doing and how that has sparked conversations between councils in Fermanagh, Cavan and Monaghan. It is not just important for the region that we are looking at; it is about how it raises ambition across the island. <BR /> <BR />I really want to talk about dual market access and why we will not support the DUP amendment. Dual market access is not just a status. It is an advantage for Northern Ireland businesses, a launch pad for new or expanding businesses and an opportunity to take advantage of. People ask why there are not examples.”
“I am often inspired by the cross-border collaboration and partnership that we see between regions, councils and business. That is to be embraced. Excellent work is being done already in the north-west, and it is important that we continue to develop that. We face a range of common challenges across the island, and we can augment our power if we work together. <BR /> <BR />One criticism that I have of the motion is that the north-west already has the north-west strategic growth partnership and the north-west regional development group, which are designed to do what the Opposition have called for in their motion, so it would be good to understand a bit more about what they expect any new economic task force to deliver and whether that is potentially duplication.”
“I want to say lots of things, but my head is reeling from some of the comments that have been made. The Chair of the Economy Committee is excellent, and I very much enjoy being on the Committee with him, but it is totally bizarre to accuse Sinéad McLaughlin of not being proud of her city: it is all that she talks about. <BR /> <BR />We welcome the motion on job creation and cross-border cooperation in the north-west. We know the importance of utilising skills, resources and talent on a cross-border basis. We support all those ambitions and objectives. We need improvements to cross-border labour mobility and collaboration on skills development. It makes sense, and we are already seeing significant collaboration on a cross-border basis, which is important to note. <BR /> <BR />Sometimes the pace of delivery from this place is slow.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I know how much energy and work he and his officials are putting into the matter. What discussions has he had about community ownership of the bed and soil of Lough Neagh?”
“It is fitting that lower-sixth students from Methodist College Belfast are in the Public Gallery for this question.”
“I have not had the opportunity to congratulate the Minister on her new role, so congratulations, Minister. <BR /> <BR />My party was always realistic about the likelihood of the extension to Carryduff happening. What concerns us is the very real need for improvements in public transport and active travel towards Carryduff. In your statement, you said that that would be considered when funding is available. What reassurances can you give to people who live in that area who need improved public transport that the time will not just be extended further and further, with no improvements being made in the interim?”
“I thank the Member for giving way and caution him that language like that is extremely dangerous. Does he not agree that short-term Airbnbs are one of the biggest issues in his constituency, as opposed to a small number of people who are coming here? Asylum seekers and refugees come on a separate contract to what is paid for through the Housing Executive.”
“Your house should be a home and a sanctuary. For too many in the private rented sector, it is the opposite. For many constituents, the positive experiences are far from universal. Life as a private renter should never be defined by a constant fight to keep a roof over your head. We should not and cannot accept that.”
“The landlord gave the student a tea towel with which to dry the condensation, but there was so much of it that it was dripping onto the bed. A council inspection of the house found several issues, including mould, exposed wiring and out-of-date fire safety equipment. The council gave the landlord a list of fixes to action before the follow-up inspection, which was set for 30 days later at 12.00 pm. The student told me that the landlord, having not done any of the maintenance, showed up without warning at 11.30 am on the final day with a tin of paint and asked to get into the room to paint over the mould before the inspectors arrived. <BR /> <BR />There are many good landlords, of course. There are great examples, but there are some who really need to do better, and that is what our proposals seek to address.”
“<BR /> <BR />As a representative for South Belfast, I know that students are facing real challenges in the private rented sector. According to a recent NUS-USI survey, around 35% of students in Northern Ireland live in private rented accommodation, and they have to deal with the very real challenges of high rental costs and poor housing. The survey states that 35% of students had difficulty paying rent, almost 20% had less than £50 a month left after paying rent, and 92% of renters had experienced some issues with their accommodation such as mould, damp, plumbing or noise. <BR /> <BR />One student told me that when they moved into their apartment, the window pane was cracked and the landlord initially accused them of having broken it, before providing them with duct tape to put over the crack.”
“In a particularly shocking case, there was mould throughout the house that was so severe that it was beginning to grow on clothes and shoes. One person told me that they began to wake in the morning with a headache and sore throat, which, with hindsight, they attributed to the mould. Condensation became so bad that wallpaper began to peel off the kitchen wall. Combined with an unreliable central heating system and poor insulation, they were spending a fortune on heating but still living in a house that was cold almost 24/7. They moved out at the end of the 12-month contract, and after even all that, the landlord sought to withhold their deposit. That was a few years ago, and the property has remained vacant ever since, which tells you everything about the property.”
“They have developed mobility issues, and the house is no longer suitable or affordable because they are not entitled to more than statutory sick pay, which puts a real strain on the entire family. <BR /> <BR />In my office we have been supporting a single mum of two, who is expecting her third child — something that I can sympathise with. I am not living through what she is, and I do not know how she is going through that. There are issues with extreme damp in their house. They are on the Housing Executive waiting list, but that has been the case for such a long time, and we all know that the likelihood of that changing any time soon is unlikely. <BR /> <BR />In many cases, constituents are coming to me about houses that are simply not fit for habitation.”
“They were in a house, but the rent went up; they could not afford it any more, and they had to get the deposit together for another house. It was a vicious cycle. They have been left traumatised by it and say that they will never again rent privately. That is someone who works full-time in our healthcare service. <BR /> <BR />Another constituent is renting privately because the Housing Executive has not yet been able to find them something suitable. She lives with her partner and three children in overcrowded accommodation, which is so small that she is sharing a bed with one of her children. In another case, the individual can afford private rent, but only because the house is so old and costly to heat.”
“I thank my colleague Kellie Armstrong for proposing this important motion and for her hard work in developing the policy proposals that she set out so eloquently earlier. <BR /> <BR />I agree with Robbie Butler. Housing is the number-one issue in my constituency office, and it is one of the most fundamental and important things that we can talk about in the Chamber. To humanise the debate, I want to share some of the reality of what people are going through. I am grateful to my constituents who were happy for me to share some of their experiences. <BR /> <BR />One is a single parent who works full-time in healthcare. They have rented privately for 20 years and currently share a bedroom with their child because the private market is too unaffordable and too insecure.”
“I have already tabled a number of questions for written answer on AI to the Minister. I am very interested in the subject. A number of other Departments are also doing work on artificial intelligence. I am curious to know what the Minister's assessment is of the Executive's ability not just to harness the potential of technological advancements but to mitigate their risks in a flexible way.”