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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“Those businesses are vital to our local economy. They provide jobs and essential services. I have recently learnt that the Knockbracken Road will not reopen until July 2025. I have written to the new Ministers for the Economy and Infrastructure to urge them to explore urgent solutions, such as accelerating the completion of the roadworks to reopen the Knockbracken Road more quickly; the implementation of better interim measures, such as improved signage and access routes to help navigate the disruption, which would be helpful; and financial relief options, such as a rate reduction or compensation. It is not just an inconvenience for those businesses and the people who rely on them, it is impacting on their lives. I am committed to ensuring that they get the support that they need now.”
“Although infrastructure improvements are essential for economic growth, we must recognise the serious impact that they can have on local businesses. When vital roadworks disrupt trade, we need to act swiftly to support those who are affected. Several businesses have been in touch with me regarding the ongoing closure of Knockbracken Road in South Belfast. The closure is not just an inconvenience: it is harming their ability to operate. Delivery lorries are struggling to access the premises, causing delays and confusion for the suppliers. Customers faced with very long detours are choosing not to visit at all, and businesses are concerned that the sharp decline in footfall may lead to customers going elsewhere and never returning.”
“Thank you, Minister. World-leading work on artificial intelligence is happening in my constituency of South Belfast, with Kainos, Queen's University Belfast and the business sector ready to go. Does the Minister agree that, given its potential to boost economic growth and productivity and the opportunities that lie therein, the Assembly needs to be really intentional and urgent in its action? Are you satisfied that a working group is sufficient to drive forward the work that needs to be progressed?”
“That is what the amendment is really about, and my colleague Sian highlighted that so well. <BR /> <BR />So many of the points have already been made, but I close by saying that carers are so often described as invisible labour. However, it is not invisible; we just have not learnt to see it properly. Therefore, having this conversation in the Chamber today is really important. Unpaid carers are doing work that would otherwise be taken on by our already overstretched social care system, but, more than that, they are providing dignity, attention and value to those who really need it. We need to see the Communities, Economy and Health Ministers setting out their approach and delivering on things that they have control over to better deliver for our carers.”
“<BR /> <BR />The modelling from Carers NI shows that flexible working and paid carers' leave could, together, increase the number of unpaid carers in employment by between 6,800 and 14,700, help more carers who work part time move to full-time work and take on additional overtime. When I talk about unpaid care at the Economy Committee, people always come back to me and say, "I have just made that decision. I have just had to take that decision to leave work". Highly skilled people are having to leave the workforce because they just do not have the flexibility that is required. <BR /> <BR />The significant roles for Communities, Economy and Health highlight the fact that this is a cross-departmental approach, and that is not just desirable but absolutely fundamental if we are going to secure the support that our carers deserve.”
“Something that I have often said about people who work in childcare, in early years education, is absolutely true of unpaid carers: they do some of the most valuable work in our economy but are not valued enough for it. What do we mean by value? How can we ascribe value to the work of unpaid carers? I thought about what Mark H Durkan said about love and devotion: you cannot put a price on it. It is not just about economics, but there are real and practical policy solutions at our disposal that must be implemented to show how we value our carers. Providing paid carers' leave, improving flexible working practices and supplying adequate respite services are practical policy solutions that can help us square the circle of balancing care and work and deliver a fairer deal for unpaid carers.”
“She is an unpaid carer for her child, who has complex additional needs. The time and energy required to provide the care was just too great to juggle with her work. She wanted to do that: she wanted to look after her child, and it was right for her, but she just did not have the support to continue doing more. Every day, there are people who are weighing up these decisions about how they look after and provide for their family, and, with over 220,000 people providing unpaid care for their family and friends in Northern Ireland, everyone in the Chamber knows someone in that position. <BR /> <BR />The more I speak to carers, the more I become convinced that, as a society, we need to change how we value care.”
“I thank Gerry Carroll for tabling the motion. Support for carers, including children who are caring for parents or siblings, is absolutely vital. It is an issue that I first became aware of when I was Lord Mayor of Belfast and one of my charities for the year was Action for Children, which does amazing work with young carers. I had the privilege of meeting that support group. One case study keeps coming into my head. It involves a family with two kids, 13 and 15 years old, who are caring for their parent who is very sick and receiving cancer treatment. They do all the cooking and cleaning. They budget, and they help their parent get dressed. They try to manage and, as things get increasingly expensive, they live with so much anxiety. Then I thought of a friend of mine, who, over Christmas, made the difficult decision to leave her job.”
“With the ongoing reviews of further education and higher education student support, how is the Department planning to build in the potential budget that will be required to fund any uplifts to loans, grants or any other support?”
“In Northern Ireland, we invest £5.07 per head compared with £10.51 in Wales and £21.58 in Ireland. Our arts, music and culture bring vibrancy to our city and communities. Belfast without music, theatre or other art forms is unimaginable. It is a unique selling point, and we have to capitalise on it. <BR /> <BR />There is no point in having an amazing offering of food if it is not safe to go out. The ending violence against women and girls strategy is key. Regeneration and landbanking have to be addressed as well.”
“I absolutely support that, and I will not go into more detail because there are many other areas that I want to touch on. <BR /> <BR />Transport is an issue. The Chair of the Economy Committee talked well about how Translink had submitted its business case for a year-round Nightmovers service, which will stimulate its customer base and extend the service into future years. The roll-out of public transport is a no-brainer, and the service was successful over the Christmas period and in previous years. We need to build confidence that when you come into the city, you will have a way to get home at the end of the night. I agree with what Carál said, and sometimes getting a taxi from the city centre to where I live in South Belfast can cost £40, which is insane. <BR /> <BR />I will mention the lack of investment in arts and culture.”
“We should be really proud of that. We have a duty to protect it and build on our successes. One of the things that I have pushed for is a quantification of the value of the night-time economy. In October, I put a question to the Minister about developing an evaluation of the economic value of the late-night economy in Belfast and Northern Ireland more broadly. The Minister's commissioning of research is positive and something that many organisations have called for. I would like a bit more clarity on the remit of the research that will be undertaken, who will undertake it and when it will be completed. We must address the misconceptions and misunderstandings around the night-time economy here, and the provision of a solid evidence base for future investment is important.”
“It takes a lot of collaboration and connection to build such a successful ecosystem. <BR /> <BR />The purple flag award that Belfast received in 2024 is clear recognition of the vibrancy and safety of our night-time economy. The appointment of Michael Stewart as night tsar and the establishment of the Northern Ireland Night-Time Commission are positive developments. I am excited to see what work they do through that ongoing collaboration. <BR /> <BR />Belfast is a destination not just for people across the region but for tourists. The Night Time Industries Association stated:”
“I thank the Member who secured the Adjournment debate. There are so many reasons to be proud of Belfast and our evening and night-time economy. As Members have mentioned, it has really transformed in the past decades. I remember that, when we first moved here from Zimbabwe in 2000, the Cathedral Quarter was somewhere you never would have gone — I actually met my husband in the Duke of York pub. When you think of what it was like then, when we first arrived, and then think of nights such as Culture Night and all the restaurants and the bars and the vibrancy, you realise that it really has transformed. There are so many people who have been behind that and have driven that: the people who work in the pubs and the restaurants, the council workers and transport workers and many others who have contributed.”
“He said that he was doing his dream job debt-free and gaining invaluable experience. We need to talk about and promote that more. <BR /> <BR />We know that the previous Economy Minister was engaged in positive work on recruiting more young people into apprenticeships, but more needs to be done to ensure that small businesses and microbusinesses in our economy have the confidence and capacity to take them on. It has to be about supply and demand, ensuring that the opportunities are in the system for our young people to take advantage of. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to supporting learning pathways, every possible future option should be clearly communicated, openly explored and equally valued in discussion with our young people at home and in schools.”
“We need to hear from the Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Education what plans they have to address the deficiencies, which include a lack of objectives and limited movement from strategy to implementation. <BR /> <BR />It is appropriate that the debate is happening during Apprenticeship Week. We would like to have seen apprenticeships mentioned in the motion. Apprenticeships offer a mixed approach and can open up a world of opportunity for so many children and young people, allowing them to gain educational opportunities and qualifications at the same as they build real-world experience in paid employment. That Economy Committee meeting clearly had a huge impact on me, because, at that session, we heard evidence from a young man called Oscar Daly, who is a higher level software engineering apprentice.”
“The Department for the Economy absolutely has a role to play in developing learning pathways to support our young people in finding the right career for them and in addressing the significant skills gaps in our economy. The 2022 employer skills survey found that there were about 39,500 job vacancies in our economy and that 35% of them were attributable to the lack of skills, experience or qualifications amongst applicants. Alternative pathways to the academic route are important levers to address those skills shortages, and the Department for the Economy and our further education system must be front and centre in those conversations. <BR /> <BR />The Audit Office has been clear that limited progress has been made in the implementation of a more strategic approach to education and training through the 14-19 framework.”
“Patrick English, who is head of careers at Wellington College, was really inspiring and is doing great work in that school to teach young people about their options. Reform and standardisation, so that every child has access to that sort of advice, are central if we are to create the cultural shift that is required to put academic and vocational pathways on an equal footing. <BR /> <BR />The independent review of education says:”
“Our children and young people are not all the same. They are diverse in their talents, skills and aspirations for the future, which is to be championed and celebrated. However, that diversity of aspiration is sometimes overlooked when it comes to the advice that they are given about their future. Academic and vocational pathways are absolutely, categorically of equal importance and must be respected, valued and treated with the parity of esteem that they deserve. That has been reaffirmed in review after review, including in the findings of the landmark independent review of education that were published in December 2023. It is not always the case, however, when it comes to the advice that our young people are given in schools. <BR /> <BR />In November, the Economy Committee heard evidence from Work+, from teachers and from an apprentice.”
“Thank you to those who tabled the motion. If we are serious about supporting the learning pathways of our children and young people, we have to be clear that there are so many options open to them for their future. The motion is a positive one, but, as our amendment sets out, we think that it would be more comprehensive with a reference to the Department for the Economy. While I was listening to the debate, it struck me that it is odd to be talking about supporting learning pathways for our children while not mentioning academic selection and how the very foundation on which this is built is so unfair.”
“That is why I, as chair of the all-party group on skills, am really excited that our next inquiry will focus on green skills. Apprenticeships will be so key to making that happen. <BR /> <BR />Alliance will keep pushing for more apprenticeship opportunities and better support for both apprentices and employers. It is about giving people of all ages the best possible start and helping businesses find the skilled workers that they need to thrive. Happy Apprenticeship Week. There are so many events going on, all of which are detailed on the Economy Department's website. I am hopeful that we can continue to drive change in that area.”
“We also need to reform and devolve the apprenticeship levy, which I have spoken about before, so that we have more control over how the money that businesses pay out is spent. We have to shift the cultural perception of vocational routes so that they are seen as equally valuable, not just as a second choice. We need to support small businesses and mircobusinesses so that they have the confidence and capacity to take on more apprenticeships. We know that more want to do that; they just do not have the capacity to do it. <BR /> <BR />We are making progress, but we need to go further and faster. Apprenticeships can help us close crucial skills gaps, especially in green industries where we need trained workers to meet our net zero commitments.”
“Careers advice in schools needs a serious rethink. Work is already happening across Education and Economy, but we also need to make sure that our apprenticeships are properly promoted. A thriving apprenticeship system depends on a strong further education sector, and there are serious concerns about the challenges facing that sector right now.”
“<BR /> <BR />National Apprenticeship Week is all about changing that mindset and raising awareness of the opportunities that apprenticeships bring. Of course, we know that both academic and vocational pathways are valuable, but we need to shift our thinking. Our focus should be on finding the best opportunities for our young people and not just pushing them down one particular route. <BR /> <BR />Apprenticeships strike a brilliant balance of earning while learning and gaining qualifications while getting real-world experience. We recently had representations from apprentices at the Committee, and I wish that I had known more about apprenticeships as an option when I was at school. In fact, when it comes to making them more accessible, that is first on my list of things to look at for taking action.”
“This week is National Apprenticeship Week. I will be honest and say that, before joining the Economy Committee, I did not know much about apprenticeships, but the reality is that they are a game changer. They help to grow our economy, tackle poverty and inequality and fill crucial skills gaps. They offer a practical strategic way to boost productivity and develop a workforce that meets our long-term economic needs. That said, we still have a problem: every time we talk about education and skills, the conversation seems to default to academic routes — university, degrees and traditional qualifications. Why is that? Why do we still have an ingrained bias that university is the best option for success?”
“Congratulations, Minister, on your new role. As a member of the Economy Committee, I look forward to working with you. <BR /> <BR />What work is planned or under way to assess the impact of the storm on the local economy?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer and for the important work that you do in that space. How will the campaign evolve?”
“Until that is achieved, food banks will continue to fill a gap that they were never meant to address, and that is a truth that none of us should be willing to accept or settle for.”
“The problem is related not just to food; people need support in other ways, such as with fuel and electricity. This has become a cliché, but families have to decide between feeding their children or keeping their home warm. That is outrageous in this day and age, and it is a decision that has become a matter of survival. As others have said, we need an anti-poverty strategy, and it needs to be fully funded and its implementation expedited. <BR /> <BR />The final point is that the people of South Belfast, especially our children, deserve more than having to rely on emergency food parcels. They deserve a society in which everyone has the resources and opportunities to live a healthy and fulfilling life without the worry of when and from where their next meal will come.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is clear that, while food banks play a vital role in addressing the crisis, the increased demand places on them a deeper systemic issue, which I have discussed. Bruce Gardiner-Crehan, who is the coordinator of the South Belfast Foodbank, put it so well. He said:”
“City Church Belfast, which is in the Holylands, felt compelled to act, as its leaders and volunteers were witnessing an ever-changing demography, with many newcomer families coming in who were already facing multiple layers of disadvantage and marginalisation. There was also the emergence of hostels housing people who are battling drug addiction, those who have been recently released from prison or those who live with major multiple underlying health conditions that prevent them working. People in that community saw that there was a real need to support those who were in dire need. Since then, the South Belfast Foodbank has become an essential service, meeting the immediate needs of thousands of families each year.”
“Thank you. Yes, absolutely. There is something almost Victorian about how those institutions have become institutionalised. We met people earlier at the round table that Sian and Kellie hosted. One woman who works in a childcare setting talked about how mothers come in without nappies for their children, so they have to rely on donations of whatever size they can get. What sort of society are we living in where children do not have even nappies? <BR /> <BR />Organisations such as the South Belfast Foodbank did not come into existence by accident. It was a direct response to the increasing poverty in the local community.”
“Figures from the Trussell Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation show that child poverty in Northern Ireland is at an alarmingly high level, with the number of emergency food parcels provided to children having increased by 90% over the past five years. That figure is truly devastating. Even worse, the figures from the Trussell Trust cannot explain the scale of food bank use across Northern Ireland, as those figures reflect only the food banks in the Trussell community network, not the dozens of independent food aid providers and community groups that also provide emergency food in our community, such as the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, those at Forward South who recently established the social supermarket and many others.”
“With all the good work that it does, the demand for its services has risen drastically in recent years, which reflects a broader worrying trend across Northern Ireland. In 2023, the South Belfast Foodbank received 2,946 referrals for food assistance. In 2024, that number surged by 17%, reaching 3,460 referrals. That dramatic increase highlights the ever-growing number of people in South Belfast who find themselves struggling to cover the basics of food, heating and the essential costs of living. <BR /> <BR />That trend, as has been highlighted today, affects communities across Northern Ireland, but one of the most troubling aspects is its severe impact on children. It also impacts on children who are seeking asylum.”
“I thank my colleague Sian Mulholland for proposing the motion and for the humanity with which she delivered her speech. I pay tribute to the sector, which has done so much to educate us on how we talk about such issues as politicians. The work that it does to support people and inform policy cannot be overestimated. <BR /> <BR />I will focus my remarks on my constituency of South Belfast, which I share with my colleague Paula Bradshaw. People think of South Belfast as a prosperous area, with the big houses on the Malone Road and restaurants and shops, but that image often belies the truth for many. The South Belfast Foodbank has been a crucial lifeline for families and individuals during times of food insecurity since its establishment in 2014.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. In NI Water's 2022-23 annual report, it said that it was being "held hostage" to fluctuations in its funding. Does the Minister agree with that assessment?”
“I agree wholeheartedly with the Minister's sentiment. What conversations has the Minister had with the Minister of Health about the number of allied health professionals that will be needed in schools not only now but in the future?”
“Thank you, Minister. I have been working with a young girl who has anaphylaxis. She is allergic to milk, dairy, eggs and nuts, which is a lot, and has really struggled with the inclusion service. Given what parents with children who have food allergies have to go through and the stress that it entails, the Food Allergies NI group has asked whether you would be willing to meet it to discuss what more can be done in schools and, in conjunction with the Health Minister, as regards a public health awareness campaign. Would you be willing to do that?”
“Thank you. We will be supporting the motion and the amendment.”
“There is also a need to focus on parents' ability to have support so that they can stay in work. Those voices are sometimes the loudest, so it is really important that we listen to them. Childcare is an anti-poverty tool as well, however. It is therefore so important that we expand Sure Start and look at how we can help people who are struggling. Providers are having so much difficulty recruiting and retaining staff.”
“People could work in the best place in the world and have the best rights, but if they cannot afford their childcare, that will not help. We have to look at the ecosystem in which we are operating. <BR /> <BR />There is also a need for minimum standards. That was mentioned earlier when ratios, signing off students and students' ability to get places were spoken about. That sits with the Minister of Health. It does not sit with the Minister for the Economy or the Minister of Education. It is therefore another example of how it is a cross-departmental issue and of how there is a need for the task force to drive the work. <BR /> <BR />There are still a couple of issues with the scheme. People who use childcare vouchers cannot avail themselves of it.”
“It was very clear to us that, if we were building a childcare scheme from scratch, it would look very different but that, given where we are now, the best and most practical way of moving forward and ensuring that people can access affordable, accessible, flexible, high-quality childcare is to have a supply-side scheme. That is wonderful to have in place, but it is not the height of our ambition. My colleague Michelle Guy has articulated the need for school-age childcare. It is so important. <BR /> <BR />There are some things that it would be worth seeing and hearing a bit more about. I sit on the Economy Committee, and the 'good jobs' Bill will soon be introduced. There is no specific reference to childcare in that Bill.”
“That is partly because some parties, with the exception of Alliance and, to be fair, Sinn Féin, which has championed the subsidised supply-side scheme and has never had a position on free hours, have had to manoeuvre things to make this a little more palatable. Yes, expansion of preschool provision is very important, but let us be honest: the main reason that there has been so much of a focus on free hours is to make it easier for the DUP to change its policy position. <BR /> <BR />Alliance published its paper 'Children First' in October 2023, and that was done off the back of engagement with the sector, families, academics and business.”
“Obviously, the majority of it lies with the Minister of Education, but it also involves other Departments. It will be interesting to hear how the task force is going and what work is being undertaken. The setting up of the scheme should not be the height of our ambition. Having the audit done is not the final piece of the jigsaw; significant work is still required. I would like an update on what is happening with the task force. That is where this discussion should be happening, and the public discussion and debate should really be on the content of the early years and childcare strategy. <BR /> <BR />Preschool is not childcare, it is early education, and the two have been conflated in the Chamber today.”
“I will pick up on a couple of points that Peter Martin made, particularly about people wanting to hear us talking about this and the fact that it is an important issue, which it is. What people want to hear us talking about, though, is the content of the childcare strategy and its delivery. <BR /> <BR />I echo what my colleague Michelle Guy said, which is that it is a sign of some concern to us that this issue is being brought to the Assembly as a motion. When the Assembly was restored, every single party leader stood up in the House and said that childcare was an Executive priority and that they were going to work together. I understand that a task force with officials from each Department is working on this, given that it is across the board.”
“and will avail myself of the NICSS, which I was very happy to see. <BR /> <BR />I ran for election because of childcare. In my constituency, I saw how parents and families were struggling. I saw how some people who do some of the most precious work in our economy are paid poverty wages. I saw the lack of standardised childcare across the board, the need for investment in it and the need to recognise childcare as the social and economic infrastructure that it is. <BR /> <BR />I want to pick up on a number of things. I welcome Diane Forsythe's tabling the motion. From the all-party group, I know that she is passionate about childcare and has done a lot of work on it.”
“I should start by declaring an interest. I will soon require further childcare”
“I genuinely appreciate it. Do you recognise that, in a number of the contributions that were made in support of the motion, the vast majority of the time was spent talking about things that were not related to prisons, prisoners and that work? That is why it is fair for us to conclude that the debate is based on a culture war.”
“I thank the Member for giving way and for being the first male Member to allow a female to intervene. There has been mention of women's rights being undermined: does the Member agree that the women's sector in Northern Ireland is entirely trans-inclusive and is opposed to the motion?”
“It did not start on 7 October. The international community has to push for a two-state solution and lasting peace.”