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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“We will host another meeting with members of the community and the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) about its appeal and how we can support additional support in Gaza. He also referred to family visa schemes and said that they account for a very small proportion of those who are here. Those people contribute to our economy. His wife is a teaching assistant, and he is a doctor. If we can reunite families, that will really be something. <BR /> <BR />There is still work for us to do. International guarantors have to play their part. For now, our hearts are with those who have been impacted on, those who are mourning loved ones and the hostages who will, very soon, be finally reunited with their families. It has been an awful 15 months, and there is so much for us to learn from this. We need to look at the root problems.”
“I do not think that we can overestimate the impact of the last 15 months. Collectively, our focus now needs to be on ensuring that humanitarian aid is able to reach children and families in Gaza. There needs to be increased access and safety, especially for humanitarian workers. There also needs to be accountability. <BR /> <BR />During the week, I spoke to a Palestinian doctor who works in one of our hospitals. I asked him how he felt, and he said that he had mixed emotions. There is such relief, but, just six weeks before, so many members of his family had been killed. He questioned whether, if the ceasefire had happened sooner, they would still be alive and said that he still fears for others. He said that, if there was anything that we as politicians could do to raise awareness and push for aid, we should.”
“He was carrying his niece on his back, and, as they were walking, he was hoping that that child would not see the bodies along the road. The impact of that and the trauma that he experienced at that time has stayed with me.”
“I welcome the recent deal in the Middle East and recognise the hope that it has brought to people across the world. For the past 15 months, MLAs have been meeting unofficially with members of Palestinian community and people who are and have been directly affected. It has been sobering. I know that I am not the only one who feels this way, but, when I put my children to bed every night, I feel an enormous sense of relief and privilege that I live in a place where my children are safe and they can dream of a better future. For so long, the children of Gaza have been denied that. Now, finally, there is hope for better. <BR /> <BR />At one of our meetings, there was a man who had recently returned from Gaza. He is a doctor in Dublin. He talked about how he was walking along a path with his extended family.”
“I will try to slow down. The community-led campaign for the development of mid-Down integrated college has been really inspiring, and I have met the people who are driving it. It will be an invaluable resource in helping to meet the growing demand for integrated education in South Belfast and beyond. It is only through developing a school of that size and scale that we will even come close to meeting the demands for integrated education from parents in South Belfast. Any information or reassurance that we can get about that and, as mentioned, the speeding up of the development at Forge Integrated Primary School would be really welcome. <BR /> <BR />We are really proud of our education provision in South Belfast, but we know that parents would like to see more provision of integrated education. We will continue to champion it.”
“I am 30 weeks pregnant, and I cannot breathe”
“What is happening with that in South Belfast? How is the Minister aiming to identify and assess demand in South Belfast when polling consistently shows that a majority of parents are in favour of integrated education? What mechanism is being taken forward to assess the demand? I also want to ask the Minister when he intends to publish the next report on integrated education, which is required by section 10 of the Act. Those are not just things that would be nice; they are in the Act, and we would like to know the answers. Constituents in South Belfast have a real interest in the issue, and, as constituency MLAs, we have been getting so many emails about what is happening. <BR /> <BR />Future development has been mentioned, but the community-led campaign for the development of mid Down integrated college — I am out of breath.”
“Twenty-six years on from the Good Friday Agreement, is that progress as fast as we want it to be? I do not think so. <BR /> <BR />In the previous mandate, my colleague Kellie Armstrong brought forward the Integrated Education Bill, which is now an Act. That was welcome and a lot of it was really positive, but demand and support consistently outstrip supply. We need to do more. I would like to hear more from the Minister about how he is taking forward certain sections of the Integrated Education Act. Section 5 places a duty on the Department with regard to:”
“I went to Methody, which was a very mixed school, and I was very privileged to do so and had lots of great opportunities. I had never even heard of Gaelic football until I met my husband. There are so many things that are part of our society that you are just not exposed to. We are in a divided society, but, in integrated schools, integration is so intentional. That really is the difference. <BR /> <BR />So much progress has been made in the landscape. There has been a huge surge in the number of schools seeking to transform, which is wonderful, with a number of successful parental ballots. It is no secret that we were disappointed by the recent decisions, but the rise of 8% in pupils in Northern Ireland attending an integrated school in Northern Ireland is positive.”
“I understand what you say. I am trying to think of the best way to answer it. I would love for you to come with me to Lagan some time and meet some of the pupils. They will talk to you about how everything is intentional. The integration ethos is through everything. I really love how — I think that it was in the last local government election — every party had a candidate running who had gone to Lagan. It is not homogenous. People are proud and confident in their identities, and having difference is not a conflict. They are just so at ease with difference there. <BR /> <BR />Yes, we want to create a more tolerant, inclusive society, but, when you speak to children who have been to integrated schools, you see that they champion integrated education better than I ever could. I did not.”
“In Alliance, we have always believed that children should be educated through a single integrated education system that delivers equality of opportunity so that every child can develop their unique ability, personality and potential. We have always championed integrated education as a core part of our party DNA and as part of that pathway towards creating a more united community. You can talk about integration and diversity within schools, but what is different about integrated schools is the ethos that is at the core of it, and that is something that we really want to champion. There is no doubt that the integrated —.”
“Lagan College, the first integrated school, is technically not in South Belfast, but we like to claim it as our own, and many families and children from South Belfast are part of that school community. We have brilliant primary schools, including Harding Memorial and Cranmore, and we also like to claim Lough View as ours. We have Malone Integrated College at post-primary. It is important to recognise other schools that are not in the constituency but will be with the boundary changes, including Millennium Integrated Primary School and others further afield. <BR /> <BR />You can recognise the excellent work that is being done by schools across the board and still have policy aspirations.”
“I thank my constituency colleague Paula Bradshaw for securing today's Adjournment debate. It is really good to have the Minister here. Thank you. <BR /> <BR />South Belfast is one of the most diverse constituencies in Northern Ireland, and it is an honour to represent that community. In South Belfast, we know that our diversity is our strength, and that is why we have always had such a special and close connection with the integrated education movement. As colleagues have outlined, we have so many wonderful integrated schools, including Cairnshill Integrated Primary School, which recently underwent the transformation process, and Forge Integrated Primary School, which was founded in 1985.”
“That includes necessary support and training for teachers and schools. Ultimately, that is how we will deliver societal change. That is what is needed to grapple with the issue, which is not only ruining the lives of many young women and girls but is, ultimately, costing lives. My party hopes that you will support our amendment. We support the motion's intention.”
“<BR /> <BR />That having been said, I am encouraged by the current Minister's responses to questions for written answer. He has said that his Department is considering how the curriculum and specifically RSE can support the ending violence against women and girls strategy. Therefore, my party's amendment requests an update from the Education Minister on completed and planned actions on the Gillen review, as well as responsibilities under the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls. I hope that Members will endorse our amendment, which welcomes the spirit of the motion and its original intention, but seeks to ensure that the motion's focus on RSE is directed appropriately. <BR /> <BR />The time for task forces and reports has passed. Our focus must now be on delivery of a fit-for-purpose RSE regime.”
“I remember that, in 2021, in recognition of that fact, Minister Long met the then Education Minister, Peter Weir, to understand how the RSE minimum content order could better support work to prevent offending and tackle the toxic ideas that some people have around sexual relationships and that can be promoted online. Minister Weir agreed that the Department of Education would take the lead on the subgroup of the Gillen education and awareness group to look at the provision of RSE in schools, including a review of the minimum content order. Unfortunately, neither Minister Weir nor his successor took that forward. That was partly due to the collapse of these institutions, which, inevitably, set back vital work across a range of priorities.”
“It is that latter point, in particular, that galvanises support from organisations such as the NSPCC, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Children's Law Centre, to name a few, that a standardised and mandatory RSE curriculum is necessary to protect our children and young people from harm. Acknowledging the specific duties of the Education Minister on RSE is not to abdicate the Justice Minister from any role in that space when talking about violence against women and girls. On the contrary, the Justice Minister has been extremely proactive in that regard. For example, she brought forward the first stand-alone domestic abuse legislation in Northern Ireland, which included criminalising coercive control. <BR /> <BR />Of course, it is vital to prevent behaviours that result in convictions.”
“My party's amendment challenges what additional benefit would be yielded by requesting yet another task force when we have the Gillen review, the Committee's ongoing work, the ETI report on preventative curriculum and the Executive's strategy and action plan on ending violence against women and girls. Whilst we agree that we cannot afford to wait, we are concerned that another task force would risk disrupting and possibly delaying actions that should be well under way. <BR /> <BR />Ultimately, policy around RSE reform is a matter for the Education Minister. The inquiry has heard from a diverse range of stakeholders who agree on the pivotal role that RSE plays in challenging dangerous mindsets and also in safeguarding, as I mentioned, so that our young people are able to recognise the signs of abuse.”
“I have spoken in the House about how educating our young people is safeguarding and will play such an important role in changing the toxic attitudes that make Northern Ireland the most dangerous place in Europe to be a woman. The sentiment of the motion is good, and we welcome it, but the Alliance amendment is concerned more with the how. <BR /> <BR />We were surprised to see an RSE motion in the Order Paper in light of the fact that the Education Committee is just weeks away from wrapping up the inquiry on this very topic. The inquiry has heard from a wide range of experts — I have been watching — including the excellent healthy young adult relationships project, which is referenced in the motion, and has received a huge number of reports and submissions.”
“I thank the proposer of the motion. I think that we all welcome any opportunity to talk about tackling violence against women and girls, and RSE is such an important part of that. <BR /> <BR />I start by paying tribute to my colleague Sorcha Eastwood MP, who made such a personal and moving speech in the House of Commons earlier this week about her experience of domestic abuse. It takes so much bravery to talk about those experiences, and what she has faced since, on social media in particular, has been vile. <BR /> <BR />I have moved from the Education Committee to the Economy Committee, but I have always been really passionate about RSE.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I wholeheartedly agree that our arts are underfunded. There is widespread recognition of that. The Department for the Economy has added funds through the in-year monitoring rounds to the year-end totals of arm's-length bodies. Is the Minister agreeable to looking at that and putting in place a similar agreement for the Arts Council so that it can adequately plan and budget for programming for the year ahead?”
“<BR /> <BR />Growing our skills base has the potential not just to unlock job opportunities but to transform living standards, boost the economy and increase employment. The devolution of the apprenticeship levy could therefore be critical in helping us to deliver economic growth and support people into work. I will write to the Economy Minister and the UK Government on this issue in the coming days and will continue to work alongside my colleague Sorcha Eastwood MP in Westminster to deliver a fairer, more effective model to support skills development in Northern Ireland.”
“Despite contributing, Northern Ireland does not directly receive funding from it. <BR /> <BR />This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed. We must be more creative and innovative in how we get the right skills into our economy to support further growth. Devolution of the apprenticeship levy would allow us to reinvest that funding much more directly into skills redevelopment, addressing those gaps in a way that could be adapted to our local needs and priorities. In particular, we could focus on the skills required to support and expand the green economy. There is no green growth without green skills, and the ability to adapt and tailor investment locally would allow us to develop the skills that we need in our economy and to contribute to our net zero obligation.”
“The skills shortages that we face in Northern Ireland are one of the most significant blocks to our future economic growth. We have serious vacancy levels, and, according to the Audit Office, more than one in three of those vacancies is attributable to the skills gap. It estimates that that results in a loss of over £700 million gross value added every year. We cannot afford to ignore that substantial economic impact. <BR /> <BR />One UK Government initiative aimed at addressing those issues is the apprenticeship levy. However, that initiative does not work for us here. The levy requires many employers to contribute 0·5% of their payroll to apprenticeship funding. As stated by the Institute of Directors in 2023, Northern Ireland businesses contribute around £60 million as a result of that levy.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I am sick. That is why I left my seat, and I am sorry about that. I never said that you are backward. I do not think that anyone heard me say that, and Hansard will reflect that I never said that you are backward.”
“My party leader said that we had a choice in how we want to be seen in the world: as innovative, solution-focused and forward-thinking people or as people who are constantly defined by chaos, negativity and instability. I know what I choose, and I know what our constituents want us to choose. Our job in the House is to make this place better and deliver. That starts with voting for the motion.”
“I am sorry, but I will not give way, because I was not given the same courtesy. I asked earlier, and you did not give it to me, so I do not think that that is fair. <BR /> <BR />Alliance is in the business of solutions. Our economy requires certainty and a clear way forward. A vote against the continuation of the articles will deliver the opposite. I hope that Members who vote against the motion are fully cognisant of the impact that doing so would have, if their vote were carried. It is an insult for people who held the institutions down for so long to describe the motion as an "assault on democracy" or a "democratic deficit". <BR /> <BR />It is time to rebuild, not to tear down. Our businesses need stability, not greater uncertainty. Our communities need hope, not constant negativity.”
“The "rigorous implementation" phrase was used in 2020 in a letter that was signed by party leaders in relation to the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 about breaking international law in a "specific and limited way". Accusing us of upholding international agreements and law is really not the accusation that you think it is.”
“<BR /> <BR />As Northern Ireland's cross-community party, Alliance has always sought to build positive relationships with those outside this region to deliver the maximum opportunity and prosperity for our communities. Brexit has, undoubtedly, made that task so much more difficult, but it has also made it more urgent. We will continue to proudly engage internationally and build positive relationships that can deliver for everyone here. <BR /> <BR />I want to pick up on one point, because we have heard it a lot. We keep being accused of being rigorous implementers. I do not know whether it is because I am six months pregnant and a bit angrier generally, but I think that that is so disingenuous.”
“We need to implement an ambitious SPS agreement and manage our way through the incoming parcels regime and the GPSR, but that is only possible through engagement. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been clear: over 70% of its members surveyed before the general election saw dual market access as a key driver for sales growth. That is why I reject the argument that voting against the motion will send a clear message. I reiterate what my party leader said: it sends the message that we are not pragmatic, forward-thinking or solution-focused. We need to get there with one voice from our Executive, business community and civic society and shine a spotlight on the immense opportunities that come with investing in Northern Ireland. That is what will deliver the progress that our communities cry out for.”
“Its forecast suggests that the volume of UK imports and exports will be 15% lower than if we had remained in the EU and that it could lead to a 4% reduction in the productivity of the UK, with the full effect being felt after 15 years. <BR /> <BR />We are where we are.A clear opportunity is on the horizon, if we have the courage and humility to grasp it. A reset in relations between the UK and the EU is welcome, and, combined with our competitive proposition as the only jurisdiction in the world where businesses can sell goods into GB and the EU free of customs and regulatory barriers, we are well positioned to build a more prosperous Northern Ireland, which, I think, we all want. Yes, there are issues.”
“I always liked the idea that you are accountable for your actions. That does not seem to fly with the cheerleaders of Brexit. They won but are not willing to be held accountable for the consequences of the actions that they took when they were running through the shop, breaking everything but not accepting the consequences. They broke it, we all had to buy it and it has not been cheap. <BR /> <BR />Cambridge Econometrics found that, this year, Brexit had already cost the British economy £140 billion. That is £2,000 per person. It is staggering. Philip McGuigan and Matthew O'Toole referenced the Office for Budget Responsibility statistics.”
“Words like "quisling" and "skulduggery" do not feature in Hansard nearly enough, much like Spice Girls analogies. However, the Alliance Party will take no lectures from Members who championed this outcome. <BR /> <BR />When I was growing up, there was a sign in a shop in the town that said:”
“I add my voice to those that have said that Brexit has been a disaster for the whole United Kingdom and, in very particular ways, for Northern Ireland. The protocol and the Windsor framework are attempts to manage, mitigate and soften the blow of Brexit on our part of the world. We live in a complex place, and there are significant sensitivities that must be managed. It is likely that nobody will ever fully get what they want in a post-Brexit landscape. Maybe that is just life. I keep thinking about the words of Senator Mitchell during the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He warned against the "100 percenters" in politics. In Northern Ireland, of all places, we should know that reasoned, principled compromise is the only pathway to progress. <BR /> <BR />I enjoyed parts of Jonathan Buckley's speech.”
“I thank the Member for giving way, and I am sorry to interrupt his, so far, very dramatic performance. It is wonderful to hear the Member talk about dual market access. Does he acknowledge that one of the greatest barriers to that has been the fact that these institutions have been down so much and that we do not have everyone in the Executive speaking with the same voice in ensuring that dual market access is a priority in the Programme for Government?”
“Four people remain unidentified because of the devastation. <BR /> <BR />Every life has value. Every person has value. The international community has to do something. People cannot keep dying. There were children in that family who were killed. It is an outrage and an atrocity. My heart goes out to every member of our Palestinian community today who feels that devastation and is worried for their family members.”
“When I spoke to Omar, whose family members were killed, he said that he wanted his family to be remembered, because every human being has importance, value and worth. Therefore, I will read out the names of his family members who were killed on Wednesday 4 December: Akram Wael Akram Al-Masry; Julia Osama Muhammad Barhoum; Abdullah Musa Abdullah Al-Astal; Haitham Muhammad Abdullah Abu Mustafa; Muhammad Ahmad Hussein Juma; Yahya Muhammad Ahmad Juma; Bassem Abdullah Youssef Hassanein, who was Dalal's mother; Fawqiya Abdul Rahim Diab Lafi; Israa Muhammad Suleiman Al-Astal; Jouri Osama Muhammad Barhoum; Sham Ali Younis Shurab; Shaima Muhammad Fathi Al-Majayda; Wafaa Ali Younis Shurab; Ahmed Muhammad Ahmad Juma; Mahmoud Muhammad Ahmad Juma; Layan Bassem Abdullah Abu Hassanein; Khalil Hussein Khalil Lafi; Osama Afif Abdullah Ghanem; and Latifa Bassem Abdullah Hassanein.”
“It is important to stress that nowhere in Gaza is safe. People cannot be evacuated; the borders are closed. Nothing has been done.”
“On Wednesday 4 December, a much-loved doctor and teaching assistant in our city received the news that they had been dreading. Nineteen members of their family in Gaza had been killed by Israeli air strikes: a mother, a brother, an uncle, cousins and children. Looking for safety, they had been evacuated nine times, and, each time they moved to a new area, they were in danger. They were killed in their tents, burned alive by bombs.”
“I thank the Member for his response. I note that much of the change that has happened is as a result of his being elected, which highlighted how the Building had to be updated. <BR /> <BR />In light of the work being done, what engagement is the Commission having with staff working in the Building who have additional accessibility needs in order to ensure that their voices are heard as the changes are being made?”
“Thank you, Minister, for such a positive response. That is really wonderful to hear. <BR /> <BR />Which body will be responsible for developing the framework? Will it be the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) or a separate body? It is really good news.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and her answers thus far. Minister, do you consider the current regulatory framework for the legal professions to be adequate? If not, what steps will you take to address that?”
“They are living with the consequences, and their greatest hope is that the same thing does not impact on another family. I urge everyone in the House to consider how we can improve the situation and make sure that, if someone is deemed medically unfit to drive, that fact is passed on to the DVA immediately so that no other family has to go through what my constituent is going through.”
“My constituent is still living through the pain and trauma of the awful tragedy that happened to them several years ago, and it is compounded by the fact that the person who killed their loved one should not even have been on the road. We need to do something about that. We cannot just leave it. It is human nature to do whatever is easiest. If someone should not be on the road, we need to make sure that that decision is enforced as much as possible. <BR /> <BR />I make representation to the Infrastructure Minister to investigate the detail and to find alternatives to the current, inadequate system. I will meet people from the BMA and any stakeholders who are impacted on by the situation. What happened to my constituent was devastating. It should not have happened.”
“It also seems that medical practitioners are not under any obligation to report such a condition to the DVA unless they believe that the driver will not report it.”
“I will speak about the serious matter of road safety, which does not receive the reporting that it deserves. Several years ago, the partner of a constituent of mine was killed while cycling. The driver of the vehicle should not even have been on the road, because they had a serious medical condition that impacted on their ability to drive, a fact that they had not reported to the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA). It is an offence in Northern Ireland not to report any condition or treatment that impacts on a person's ability to drive. It is also an offence to drive after making a false declaration. There seems to be a loophole, however, whereby it is left to the discretion of people who are deemed medically unfit to drive to advise the DVA of their condition.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Subject to Standing Order 65(1)(c), will the Speaker make a judgement on whether the Communities Minister was guilty of a breach of good order in the Assembly Chamber yesterday when he aggressively told me to sit down while I was seeking clarity on the Alliance Party's position in support of funding of childcare?”
“Ahead of Carers Rights Day, I therefore urge the Minister to reconsider the omission of paid carers' leave from the proposals for the 'good jobs' employment rights Bill and ensure that the rights of carers in Northern Ireland are not only maintained but enhanced through legislation. Evidence shows that that would not just benefit carers but help the economy and lower our spending on social security, making it a win-win policy for everyone. Alliance will continue to champion the importance of the issue and to support carers across Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although it is important that carers know what their rights are, I am also determined to do what I can in this place to ensure that their rights are enhanced. When the Minister for the Economy launched the consultation on his 'good jobs' employment rights Bill, it was very disappointing that paid carers' leave was omitted from it, particularly given the fact that we debated a motion in March 2024 in which the Assembly supported the provision of paid carers' leave. To those who are juggling unpaid care with work, paid carers' leave is one small way in which we can ensure that our carers can take time off to look after their loved ones.”
“This Thursday marks Carers Rights Day, and the theme this year is "Recognising your rights". The aim is to help carers recognise their rights and help them access the available support. Carers UK estimates that approximately 12,000 people across the UK become unpaid carers for a partner, family member or friend every day. That is a remarkable statistic, but it is probably not a surprise to Members, who, I am sure, know carers or are carers themselves. The importance of unpaid carers in our society cannot be overestimated, yet they are so often undervalued. Each and every day, thousands of people, many of whom have disabilities and health conditions themselves, dedicate themselves to looking after family, friends or loved ones. They do some of the most important and valuable work in our economy.”