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 9 of 14.
“The winding down of the high street task force following the publication of the 'Delivering a 21st Century High Street' report was bitterly disappointing, particularly in the context of that 2022 report being left to gather dust —”
“Especially when we look at our arts sector, we see how regenerative small businesses are. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Rooms is a venue that can show its cultural and artistic values to a new generation, and we should maximise that potential by showcasing and supporting our brilliant local talent. That is why we have supported a proposal to offer support for artists to take over vacant space and secure long-term tenancies at council level: to better support our arts sector. <BR /> <BR />There are roles for Departments, councils and a multitude of stakeholders who must be included in the conversations, which is why we have called on the Economy Minister to develop a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate high streets and town centres. No one action can tackle the dereliction or bring vibrancy to our high streets.”
“Fighting for the recently announced expansion of the Vacant to Vibrant scheme outside the city centre to help revitalise neighbourhoods and inject vibrancy into vacant commercial properties is also so important. We have been pushing to secure the creation of a small business champion, and I am excited about the delivery of Belfast Stories and other city deal projects, such as the Lagan footbridge. We are working to ensure that all projects are accessible, inclusive and sustainable. So much work has been happening, but that is not to say that there is no room for much more. We believe that it is time to reform our rates system, including through the potential expansion of the small business rate relief scheme and making it easier for businesses to set up in vacant premises and promote growth.”
“I am an unashamed, proud champion of Belfast — I love our city — and I genuinely believe that councils are at the heart of our communities and are best placed to deliver local solutions for our towns and cities. While planning has been devolved to councils, it is long past time for those powers to follow suit. <BR /> <BR />On Belfast City Council, our councillors have been working hard to tackle the dereliction and regeneration of our city centre, and, while the substance of the motion is really important, I do not want to discount that important work. The work on supporting the Vibrant Business Destinations programme, including on high streets, which can support and complement the city centre in improving street furniture, is really important.”
“I am glad to speak on the motion. Many of the aims and ambitions set out in the text were reflected in the Alliance motion on the rejuvenation of high streets across Northern Ireland. I am always happy to talk about tackling dereliction, which plays an important part in creating more vibrant high streets. As any MLA for Belfast will attest, we know how deeply that has impacted on our city centre. <BR /> <BR />While a range of factors are at play in the motion, a key priority for Alliance is the devolution of regeneration powers. For many years, Alliance has been clear that we need to secure the devolution of regeneration powers to our councils. We have been waiting too long for them to transfer.”
“Those two parties supported free hours —.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for the Minister of Education to imply that Alliance Ministers did not support the £25 million for childcare, especially considering the fact that the Alliance Party was the party that brought the proposals for subsidised childcare to the House?”
“I call Colin McGrath to make a winding-up speech on the motion. Colin, you have five minutes.”
“— and it is what we need to maximise opportunities.”
“My colleague talked about how much of an impact the SPS agreement would have. The best deal was always to remain in the EU, but, now that we have left, we have to continue to work hard to make progress on issues emerging from that decision that affect people in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />On the point about democracy, the protocol and the Windsor framework were literally passed by Westminster. <BR /> <BR />Alliance will continue to offer a constructive and forward-looking approach that seeks to build positive relationships across these islands and across Europe. That is the very least that our constituents deserve —”
“Thank you. As there is not much time, I will focus on the amendment, specifically the ETA. An electronic travel authorisation tourist exemption is a vital mitigation that we call for in our amendment. It will have a huge impact on our tourism offer and industry. Over 70% of Northern Ireland's international visitors enter via Dublin and cross the land border. ETA requirements could deter visitors, as many might simply exclude Northern Ireland from their travel plans. Also, there are legal risks for tourists who may unknowingly cross the border without an ETA. <BR /> <BR />In 2023, there were an estimated 5·4 million overnight trips to Northern Ireland, with an associated expenditure of £1·2 billion, and £900 million of that came from external visitors, so it is so important that we talk about the impact of tourism.”
“That does not change the fact that Alliance members on that Committee voted for five inquiries.”
“We need, however, to look ahead and to be realistic about our options and about the potential pathways ahead. We know that the Windsor framework is not perfect. There have been lots of jibes about rigorous implementation, but I remind the Members who like to make those jibes that that related specifically to the breaking of international law. <BR /> <BR />Steve Aiken said that he would not support our amendment. I have a lot of time for Steve — I had a great time with him in Brussels — but he did not talk about why he does not agree with a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement or the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) exemption; instead, he focused on our behaviour in Committee.”
“I will need more than three minutes. <BR /> <BR />I will start by responding to that intervention. Yesterday was my son's fifth birthday. When he opened up his pirate ship, his eyes lit up in much the same way as Jonathan Buckley's eyes lit up when the man from Invest NI talked about dual market access. I keep thinking that the reasons that we have not been able to maximise our dual market access are the continual collapse of the institutions and the Tory chaos at Westminster. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the motion. It is important that we talk about this. We do not want to rehash history. We knew that any form of Brexit would be a bad deal for Northern Ireland and that the hard, purist form of Brexit pursued by the DUP and the Tories would be particularly bad. Brexit is the root cause of the problems that businesses face right now.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. If this is a dry run for the debate on the democratic consent motion, Lord help us.”
“I am desperately worried about those children, and I am desperately worried that they are not a priority because they are a tiny minority. How we treat those people says so much about how we are as a society. <BR /> <BR />Yesterday, we discussed the legacy of Anna Lo. When she was an MLA, all those years ago, Anna Lo championed racial equality and asked for legislation on that. We are still waiting. If we are serious about showing that we are committed to racial equality, we will bring that forward.”
“They were terrified and asking what they had done wrong to be in prison. They were going to school, but they were traumatised and were not getting the support that they needed. We need to have a conversation about how we address that together. <BR /> <BR />We had the strategic migration partnership, which fell apart. TEO took that on, and I am grateful that officials are doing amazing work on that. However, there is no accountability or transparency about how the different Departments feed into that to support, honestly, the most vulnerable people in society. We need to have a discussion about how we protect them. Any review will be really important, but so, too, will be how we lead, discuss and put in place mechanisms so that no one falls through the gap.”
“Gerry and I go into the hotels fairly regularly, and we have met people who are living in contingency accommodation to hear what they are going through. Shortly after I was elected, I went into a hotel. "Hotel" is misleading: it gives the impression that the people there are living in the lap of luxury. Those people have been through unimaginable hell and have come here to start a new life. It is our human rights obligation and our privilege to support people as they build a new life. I remember that there was a group of women who were waiting to talk to me that day. Every single one of them had been through the worst that humans can do to one another. What they had been through would be unimaginable to most people. They just wanted safety and security for their children. One child was nine or 10 and had started wetting the bed again.”
“Why do we not have the refugee integration strategy that is recommended in the racial equality strategy? It has been meant to be coming for months. It is not here yet. We are really good at condemnation and turning up and showing support when something awful has happened, but what are we doing in the meantime? <BR /> <BR />One area that I am passionate about and talk about a lot, but feel is ignored, is support for asylum seekers and refugees. I really hope that any review looks into the governance of how we address those issues. Months ago, I asked about a meeting specifically about children who are in contingency accommodation. I said that I was really worried that, at some point, an inquiry will be needed into how those children have been treated.”
“I welcome the Chair's comments that it is about a review and looking at what we got wrong and what we need to do right. That is so important. We had the recall and discussed at length how those attacks were outrageous. I keep thinking about business owner Muhammad Atif, who stood on the stairs in the Great Hall and made a dignified plea that we build a society that celebrates our diversity and is future focused, thinking about the next generation and what sort of society we want our children to grow up in. It is not just about minority ethnic people not feeling valued but about how, as a society, we treat anyone who feels different and ensure that they feel valued and important. <BR /> <BR />The prospect of legislation has been raised. That is part of the response. It does not feel as though there is any urgency.”
“If we gathered in the House to talk about incidents of sexual assault or street violence and anyone mentioned "legitimate concerns", there would be outrage. We need to stop doing that. We have to stop doing that when it comes to racist attacks. There were no legitimate concerns when it came to the racism that we experienced in our city in August. If you want to discuss housing or how people are struggling to cope, that is for a debate on the cost of living or housing. Please stop bringing it in when we are talking about racist attacks. It is totally unacceptable, and it gives victims the impression that they are being prioritised over the perpetrators. It has to stop. Please, can we stop doing it? <BR /> <BR />I welcome the motion.”
“I thank the First Minister for her statement. What work is being done to promote opportunities via the ERASMUS+ programme? Can you offer clarity on whether it will be available to Northern Ireland participants?”
“The police were very helpful. I rang them after I had gone in to tell the shopkeeper exactly what I thought of his practice of selling those products to children. <BR /> <BR />The Trading Standards Service should take a more active role in the issue. For the first time in Northern Ireland, in early November, Belfast City Council imposed a restricted sales order to prevent an individual from selling tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products following the sale of a nicotine-inhaling product to a child under 18. We need to see more of that and see councils and Trading Standards taking a more active role. After witnessing that happening right next to an MLA's office, I can only imagine how much it happens across Northern Ireland. This is something that I will pursue.”
“Cathy Mason brought an important motion to the Assembly, which referred to the role of education and information on the subject. A report from Asthma + Lung UK referred to the marketing and promotion of vaping to young children, but we have not talked enough about regulation and enforcement.”
“A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in my constituency office, and it was raining. It was just before recess, and a number of children came in to shelter from the rain. They must have been 13 or 14 years old, max. They spent about 20 minutes in my office, and then they left. There is a vape shop just around the corner. I noticed some of them going into it, so I went out and looked through the window and saw that those young people, who were 15 years old, maximum, buying vapes, which we know is illegal. <BR /> <BR />I am genuinely very concerned that that is happening. An Audit Office report from earlier this year highlighted that 9% of local 11- to 16-year-olds are vaping, with 6% doing so regularly, and that that is a marked increase since 2019. Some 24% of year 12 children vape.”
“<BR /> <BR />A life of hard work and service had not given her the time for herself that she richly deserved, yet she never seemed to age. In fact, that almost reversed in retirement, and meeting Robert was life-enhancing. Every time I saw her, she was glowing — days filled with painting, swimming, gardening and travel. The cruellest part of her passing is that the life that she had so longed for and that she was finally living has been cut short. <BR /> <BR />Principled, inclusive, warm and brave, Anna Lo embodied everything that we need more of in politics and in life. My work mum, my mentor, my inspiration, my friend. I cannot believe that she has gone, but I am so glad that, before she went, I got to tell her that I loved her, because I really did. All who loved her will feel her loss profoundly, particularly Conall, Owen and Robert.”
“Despite so many personal and professional challenges, she lived her life with such energy and optimism. There was a pure, almost childlike joy about her. Anna loved the arts, the environment, going for walks, good food — she was an amazing cook — and spending time with her many friends, but her greatest love was her two sons, Conall and Owen. She would tell anyone who would listen how accomplished they were, their achievements, how they were doing in university and how they were so handsome. She used to tell me that, if I wanted children, I needed to find a Chinese husband. Any time she saw beautiful children, she said, "Oh, they are gorgeous. You know, my children are gorgeous too. They are Eurasian". She was so funny and so proud of her sons. She leaves a remarkable legacy for her children and grandchildren, whom she so adored.”
“Mostly, she showed me how politics can be done with kindness and empathy, which goes so much further than one-upmanship or bitterly fixating on difference and the past. <BR /> <BR />Born in Hong Kong, Anna left school at an early age, but her thirst for knowledge never left her. She knew what it was like to be denied opportunities and to feel like an outsider, so she built a career that was founded on inclusivity as a police interpreter, a social worker, the director of the Chinese Welfare Association and, later, as Alliance MLA for South Belfast. Anna was never particularly interested in political theory or strategy; she was just interested in people and making their lives a bit better. She made so many people's lives better, including my own. <BR /> <BR />Suzanne Breen said that she was good fun, and she was so much fun.”
“Anna never lied. She wondered how dishonest people kept track of what they said. It was not just us who she was direct with. She told constituents when she thought that they were being unreasonable. She told other politicians when she did not like their behaviour, and party policy rarely dissuaded her from saying what she thought. <BR /> <BR />Anna taught me so much about the value of hard work. The ushers will remember frequently having to go up to her office to check when she was going home so that they could lock up, because she was the last person here, diligently reading her Committee papers late into the night. She told me that you can never please everyone, but, if you stick to your values, you maintain your integrity.”
“My colleague said, "Yes, do you like it?", and Anna said, "No".”
“I first met Anna Lo when I joined her office as a work experience student 12 years ago. She was the first person for whom I ever voted, and the more I got to know her, the more I respected her. She talked about issues that others were often too afraid to talk about. As Claire said, she wore a leather jacket. She bought that jacket because she did a course on women in leadership, where they said that men had to wear blazers in the Chamber so women should wear jackets too. I think that Anna got a leather jacket out of spite and to take that advice on board. <BR /> <BR />Anna somehow managed to deliver brutal honesty with so much warmth. Jenna and Cathy, who are my work sisters, are in the Public Gallery, but, once, another one of my colleagues, who is in America, got a haircut. She came in, and Anna said, "Did you get a haircut?".”
“I thank the Member for giving way. He and I agree on most things apart from Sunday trading. Does the Member not agree that employment law is in place to protect workers' rights? On allowing choice on Sundays for some workers, I have heard some mothers talking about it in terms of childcare, saying that they would like the opportunity to work on Sundays so that they can have a day at home with their children during the week. It is about facilitating choice and making sure that employment law is as strong as possible, not denying people the choice to shop on a Sunday if they want to.”
“The most successful high street regeneration projects emphasise the importance of aligning high street assets with community demand for diverse facilities and retail opportunities, recognising that high streets not only serve commercial purposes but provide an essential community, cultural and educational resource. Although our high street businesses, retailers and tenants face significant challenges, I remain hopeful for the future of our high streets and look forward to working collaboratively with colleagues from across the House and with the Minister on developing a comprehensive strategy to rejuvenate our high streets and town centres.”
“As Dr Fei Chen noted in her report on creative engagement for high street regeneration:”
“<BR /> <BR />Although there are issues across a range of Departments, Alliance believes that a focus on the Department for the Economy gives us a strong starting point to continue to drive forward the changes that are necessary in order to support our high streets. The Department for the Economy is in a much better position than TEO is to develop an understanding of the effectiveness of high street regeneration efforts and to prioritise the economic challenges that high streets face. It is also crucial that the engagement be not just cross-departmental but with local councils and communities in order to develop an effective, locally owned approach to high street regeneration. <BR /> <BR />High street regeneration is an issue that every Government must grapple with and respond to.”
“They wrote to the Department for the Economy, the Department for Communities, the Department for Infrastructure and the Department of Finance on that basis on 10 October. It is clear that there are issues that span multiple Departments and that, in an ideal world, we would have all the relevant Ministers in the Chamber to respond. Given the economic imperative of high street regeneration, Alliance is of the view that the Department for the Economy should play a leading role on the cross-departmental working group, especially given the lack of action that there has been from TEO up to this point. What is clear is that there is no shortage of ideas. What we need to do now is deliver.”
“That report recognised a range of challenges and opportunities, including the crucial role played by urban centres in driving economic growth, the need for locally tailored strategies and a wide range of other dimensions that my colleague Connie Egan will speak to in greater detail later in the debate. It was envisaged that the task force would be in place for five years to coordinate TEO's five-year reconstruction plan. Its recommendations have since gathered dust, however, and, all the while, the problems for our high streets have mounted. <BR /> <BR />In response to a question for written answer that I submitted recently, the First Minister and the deputy First Minister acknowledged:”
“In 2020, the Welsh Government announced the £90 million transforming towns fund to increase footfall, tackle empty buildings and create green town centres. In the South, the town centre first initiative has been developed to help every town lay the foundations for a locally developed plan to help it reach its potential. <BR /> <BR />When we look globally, we see that there is a wide range of creative solutions to the challenges facing our high streets. In response to local challenges, our Executive established a high street task force in 2022 that presented recommendations on delivering a 21st-century high street.”
“Toronto developed its Digital Main Street campaign, which is aimed at increasing the online presence of bricks-and-mortar shops. In central Berlin, public realm works resulted in market squares becoming entertainment and social destinations, with knock-on benefits for local businesses. Lille in France developed a niche as a centre of research and design, leveraging public transport connections to build an international reputation. <BR /> <BR />We have also seen action closer to home. In Scotland, the £50 million town centre fund was launched in 2019 by the Scottish Government and local authorities to help high streets become more sustainable, diverse and successful in the face of significant changes.”
“Retail NI also raised the issue of the Chancellor's announcement of a 40% rate relief scheme for independent retailers and other high street businesses in England. There are growing calls for Barnett consequentials to be used locally in order to offset the National Insurance increase and to allow high street businesses to reinvest more of their money in order to create more jobs and boost our economy. It is on that point that we will be accepting the SDLP amendment. <BR /> <BR />Over the past decade, Governments around the world have introduced various schemes to address the regeneration of town and city streets and centres. In parts of Manchester, after a period of community engagement, Friday night markets were developed to host local businesses, and those drew residents into the town centre for after-work entertainment.”
“The need for support for micro and small businesses has only increased in the past week, given the impending pressures emerging from the Budget announcements, particularly those on National Insurance contributions and wage increases. The Government claim that the increases are mitigated by the increase in the employers' allowance, but serious concerns remain. Today, Retail NI told me that members are struggling to pay the highest business rates in the UK. That, coupled with increasing employers' National Insurance contributions, will have a negative impact on local jobs and the viability of small businesses and will restrict the growth of our economy.”
“However, we all know that our high streets are under enormous pressure and that they are changing. With online shopping, out-of-town retail parks and the challenges of COVID, our high streets have faced enormous volatility in recent years. There is an urgent need to find more creative and innovative policy responses to address challenges, especially for the small, micro, independent, family-owned businesses that dominate our economy. The FSB report on high streets set that out clearly, noting:”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I am glad to propose the motion, which provides an opportunity to discuss further support that we can and should provide to our high streets. <BR /> <BR />Alliance understands that high streets are at the heart of communities in cities, towns and villages across Northern Ireland. From post offices and banks to corner shops, bakeries, cafes, butchers and everything in between, our high streets are places not just of business and commerce but of community connection and social cohesion. They provide jobs, vibrancy, arts and cultural opportunities, essential services and a sense of pride in the places that we call "home". As the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) stated in a recent report:”
“I thank the Minister for his response. I agree that these are critical interventions. How can that action be carried out in a just and fair way?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and answers. When I was on the Education Committee, we heard from the independent panel, and there was an acknowledgement that special educational needs were a priority for the Committee, so I take exception to the implication that the Committee did not care about that. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister say what the specific timeline will be for the work on curriculum, which was a priority of the panel? What engagement will there be on that? How broad will the scope be, and will it include early years careers education for primary-school children, for example? Will he give a sense of what the curriculum review will be?”
“Homes, schools and hospitals lie in ruins, and people are struggling to access the most basic necessities of food, water and medical care. The situation is especially dire for children, many of whom are suffering from malnutrition, injury and trauma. We owe it to them to act. Charity alone is not enough: we need more than temporary relief; we need long-term solutions. We must hold our Governments accountable, demand diplomatic action and insist that international leaders come together to broker a ceasefire that respects human rights and upholds the dignity of all people. We also need to stop looking away from the images on our screens and use them to motivate us to act. Please speak out, pressure our Government to act and, if you can, support the DEC's appeal. Our voice and support can literally help to save lives.”
“The international community must not stand by as the atrocities continue: we must demand immediate action, an end to violence and bloodshed and a commitment to a just and lasting peace for all. <BR /> <BR />Last week, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched an urgent appeal to provide life-saving aid to those affected. The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of humanitarian crisis overseas. I know that times are tough for many, but if people are able to contribute, their donation, no matter how small it is, will make a difference. The UK Government will match, pound for pound, up to £10 million donated by the public to that appeal. <BR /> <BR />Right now, an overwhelming 2·1 million people — almost the entire population of Gaza — do not have enough to eat.”
“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has reached a point of unimaginable suffering. I know that I am not alone in being deeply pained by the images and stories of innocent people who have lost their lives. The numbers are staggering, but the impact goes far beyond the statistics. They are people whose futures have been stolen, their families torn apart and their communities left in ruins. <BR /> <BR />I have spoken several times during Members' Statements about the need for a ceasefire in Palestine, for humanitarian aid, for the return of the hostages and for the ending of arms sales to Israel: today, I renew that call with even greater urgency. Right now, millions of people across Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region are in need of food, shelter and medical aid.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Does the Minister believe that the Budget will better reflect the funding needed to mitigate climate change, particularly by including more funding for the Lough Neagh action plan?”
“I am conscious that lifelong learning will be really important in delivering the digital skills pipeline. I am curious as to what plans the Minister has to address the cultural perception that learning stops when you enter the workplace. This will be so important. What plans and programmes does he have to enhance that?”