Alan Robinson
East Londonderry · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“As the school year comes to a close, 2026 will see the loss of two high-profile educators in Roe Valley. Those two individuals have given many valuable years of service to the education system.”
“<BR /> <BR />Marshall and Nicola, I hope that you begin your well-earned rest with immense pride in all that you have accomplished. Your schools will undoubtedly miss you, but your legacy will continue through every pupil whose life was enriched because of your years of service.”
“<BR /> <BR />While the two individuals led very different schools, they shared a calling: to provide the best education for young people and to inspire those around them. They have been a steady, reassuring presence for generations of children and trusted colleagues to their staff.”
“He has been an incredibly popular head of school and has the respect of many across the education system in the Province. I wish him well and trust that he will enjoy having more time for the sports that he is so deeply fond of, including rugby.”
“I thank the Member for that response. I very much welcome the addition of a padded protective area, which is something that I had lobbied for. I am keen to know whether there are any plans to increase the number of Changing Places facilities in Parliament Buildings in order to improve accessibility for staff and visitors.”
“Like others, I support the motion. For many individuals and couples across Northern Ireland, the dream of becoming parents is accompanied by years of emotional heartbreak. Couples who have undergone that journey will tell you that it is the uncertainty that kills them.”
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“<BR /> <BR />As winter approaches, along with the annual additional pressures that come with it, the Province is staring at the added catastrophic pressure of health service staff being on a picket line in November. The Health Minister must try to avoid such action. We can all point to overspends on projects such as the Belfast maternity and children's hospitals. That money could have been spent elsewhere. Staff should not be the fall guy for money that has been lost elsewhere in the system. <BR /> <BR />There are many mounting pressures on the Executive. We must also recognise that the special educational needs (SEN) reform agenda needs to be supported by the Executive too. The money spent on SEN and on health service pay are investments that cannot and should not be avoided.”
“<BR /> <BR />The DUP supports the principle of pay parity, and we want staff here to be recognised, just like their counterparts in GB. Everyone in the Chamber knows that the challenges facing the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland are enormous. The pressure on hospitals, the growing waiting lists and the impact on the mental and physical well-being of our workforce should keep us awake at night. I have family in the health sector, and I know the stress and the pressures that they face. However, even amidst the financial challenges that face public services more widely, there is public recognition of the need to respect and reward the workers who keep our health service afloat.”
“We often hear in the House and in Committee that, without the dedication of our health workforce, we simply would not have a health service. It is often said that our healthcare staff are the spine of the system that sustains health and social care. Nurses, who also need progression pathways, care assistants, therapists, porters and countless others, day in, day out, dedicate themselves to the well-being of others. We all know such people locally, and they work in seriously challenging circumstances. All of us in the House have seen at first hand how those people are worked to the bone. In some cases, their goodwill is keeping some sectors of the health service from total collapse, yet, despite all their sacrifices, fair pay frequently becomes an annual fight.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. I am sure that, like me, he is frustrated at good people and good tenants being terrorised by bad people and bad tenants. His announcement today is important, but will the Minister indicate when the measures that he refers to will be brought to the House?”
“Other regions of the UK, including Scotland, have managed to provide local CAR T-cell services, and I am interested to hear why we lag behind. We have some of the best hospitals — world-class, in fact — and world-class staff. We should therefore be on a par with the very best. I look forward to the Minister's comments.”
“There is an obvious financial outlay in having to pay for travel and accommodation, and loss of income is incurred during the time away. We need to do better by having cutting-edge treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy available on our doorstep in the heart of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland must not be left behind in healthcare. We cannot continue to rely on the goodwill of distant hospitals or the limited availability of services in England and Scotland. If we were to establish a local service, patients could have equitable access to that life-saving treatment, without the added hardship of travelling, even to Dublin. That is particularly the case for people whom I represent on the far north coast of the Province. Unless I am missing something, it should not be an impossible task.”
“Like others, I convey my sympathies to the family of Catherine Sherry, the young mother whose story triggered the debate. I admit that I did not hear the radio programme in which the case was initially discussed, as I am not a great follower of the news, but I have since read the story online. She died in King's College Hospital in London, miles away from her three sons. That is heartbreaking. It is unimaginable. <BR /> <BR />CAR T-cell therapy is a groundbreaking and potentially life-saving treatment for certain cancers. It works by reprogramming a patient's immune cells to attack cancer cells. It has already shown positive results in clinical trials and real-world applications, offering hope to people who may have run out of other treatment options. Right now, though, patients travel to England or Scotland to receive treatment.”
“Minister, can you give absolute confidence to the House that no patient data or staff information was compromised or lost as a result of the incident?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, I am personally saddened that the three applicants from my constituency did not progress in this phase, but I thank you for progressing the fund 14 years after it should have commenced. Minister, what lessons has the Department learned from this round of funding, and how will that inform changes in future grant programmes in order to ensure that there is regional balance?”
“I thank the Minister. Will he also detail the steps that his Department is taking to address public concerns about vaccines?”
“While it is seen as a technical adjustment, you could also say that it allows for a future step change in accountability and the protection of some of the most vulnerable members of society, and that, no matter who delivers mental health care, the rights of patients must come first. It is therefore positive for those who are in receipt of mental health services now or in the future, whether they are from public or private providers, that they can rely on the full protection of the law in the future. I support the LCM.”
“The amendment should tighten that gap and reinforce a simple but powerful principle: if a service is paid for with public funds, it must respect the public's rights, especially when that service involves the care of individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. <BR /> <BR />Mental health legislation is a devolved matter. It is entirely proper that the Assembly has the opportunity to consent to provisions that fall within our legislative competence. By doing so, we can affirm that the Assembly has a commitment to consistent standards of care and human rights across jurisdictions.”
“When public money is spent on mental health services, whether they are delivered by the NHS or private providers, those services must be delivered with the same level of accountability, respect for rights and legal standards. We can all point to how mental health services in Northern Ireland are under huge pressure. We hear the demands from our constituents. While demand rises, the role of private providers will obviously grow. In that context, it is even more important that we maintain one clear legal framework for all providers that provide publicly funded care, especially into the future. Whilst statutory providers are clearly bound by the Human Rights Act, some ambiguity remains regarding private entities that are delivering publicly funded care.”
“Like others, I support the LCM on the Mental Health Bill and the proposed amendment to extend its provisions to Northern Ireland. It is important that the most vulnerable in our society are protected, including through access to care and legal safeguards that uphold their rights.”
“Any reform as a result of the review of such drugs should be extended to Northern Ireland in the context of the Windsor framework and should build on the existing agreement reached with the EU, ensuring that patients in Northern Ireland see benefit. I support the motion.”
“Clause 1(2) provides that the review must consider regulatory approaches in other countries compared with the UK's approach and encourages that the review must assess international regulatory approaches for orphan drug products, with a view to assessing whether the regulations in the UK are considered effective at encouraging research and development for treatments of rare cancers. <BR /> <BR />Patients in Northern Ireland deserve the same access to progress in medical science as those in the rest of the UK because, as we all know, cancer does not recognise borders and nor should the research and innovation that combat it.”
“The Health Committee understands that some existing non-cancer drugs may be effective for rare cancers, but there is no clear pathway or funding structure to support their investigation and approval. There is a public need to fill that research gap. <BR /> <BR />As was said previously, clause 1 of the Rare Cancers Bill will place a duty on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to:”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill will place a legal duty on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to conduct a thorough review of UK law governing the marketing authorisations for orphan drug products used in the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of cancer and to compare the UK's framework with regulatory systems in other countries, assessing whether the current rules encourage research into and investment in such cancers. Some companies are reluctant to invest in such research because of the limited numbers of people affected. The fact that potentially life-saving treatments do not receive the same level of research and investment means that there are fewer treatment options for those with rare cancers. <BR /> <BR />Orphan drugs are used to treat not only rare cancers but other rare diseases.”
“I support the LCM on the extension to Northern Ireland of clause 1 of the Rare Cancers Bill, which proposes a mandated review by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of how the current framework of marketing authorisations and regulatory incentives either helps or hinders the development of drugs for rare cancers. <BR /> <BR />The lives affected by rare cancers are just as valuable and are just as deserving of and entitled to support as any other, even though those cancers affect smaller numbers of people. Whilst those numbers may be smaller, they amount to almost one quarter of cancers in the Province, including blood cancers and head and neck cancers.”
“Will the Minister outline the scope that local councils have to deal with short-term holiday lets?”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank Glebe Farm for its warm welcome and encourage anyone visiting the Limavady area to drop by its farm shop to sample the very best of local produce. I also thank the Ulster Farmers' Union for affording the wider public and schools the opportunity to learn why local farming is so important to all our futures. At a time when the local farming community has been under so much pressure, the open farm weekend venture provides a positive lift in challenging times for such a key sector in our Province's way of life.”
“It is an annual event organised by the Ulster Farmers' Union. This year, almost a couple of dozen farms threw open their gates for the public to enjoy and better understand the rich, rural, farming way of life and how food is produced on the farm. <BR /> <BR />As a townie with zero farming background for many generations of my family, I visited Glebe Farm just outside Limavady. Over the weekend, it provided a really interesting and fun experience for the general public, some of whom had never been on a farm in their life. Glebe Farm was just one such example, where local schools attended on Friday and the general public on Saturday and Sunday, affording them an opportunity to meet some of the animals, attend live cooking demonstrations of local produce and enjoy various other games and tours.”
“The weekend past was Open Farm Weekend, when townies such as me got an opportunity to connect with farms and farm families as they showcased Northern Ireland's farms and the food that comes from them.”
“I am grateful to the Minister for that response. Will he provide additional information about the current position on synthetic pitch provision?”
“Minister, it will come as no surprise that, following the leaked report on the cardiac surgery unit at the Belfast Trust, members of staff from other trusts are contacting MLAs to say that they, too, are working in toxic environments. What do you say to those staff? Will you support an individual duty of candour?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and for that clarification. What further action has he taken in relation to the matter to ensure that the cross-cutting protections that have been put in place are respected by Ministers?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her response. Will this week's spending review offer opportunities for extra money for policing?”
“Minister, I condemn the death threat against you. In this day and age, whether it is 2025, 1995 or 1975, there is no place for such despicable behaviour. <BR /> <BR />Given the public health risks associated with the site, is the Minister aware of any other sites across the Province that may pose similar risks? What action is he taking to address them?”
“I thank the Minister for that response. Over 1,000 people attended a consultation event last week and roundly rejected the nutrients action programme (NAP) proposals. In under a day, around 2,000 people signed a petition launched by my colleague Michelle McIlveen, which calls for those proposals to be scrapped. Minister, why will you not listen? Again, we ask this: will you scrap the NAP proposals and go back to the drawing board?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and for securing special status for Northern Ireland in the celebration events to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Will he provide an update on those plans and on what budget has been allocated to them?”
“<BR /> <BR />The council continues to tell me that, contrary to what the public think, it does not have the powers to deal effectively with derelict private buildings. I say this to the AERA Minister: get on with urgently beefing up the outdated legislation from the late 1800s under which councils have to operate. There is no better example of an eyesore to help mould new, better and more powerful legislation for councils to deal with other privately owned eyesores in our towns and cities. The sooner that that happens, the better that it will be for the residents and traders of Limavady and, indeed, many villages, towns and cities across our Province.”
“On numerous occasions, I have pressed the local council, the owner of the building and DFI Roads to act. I have supplied supporting documentation for loss adjusters and insurance companies. I have supplied supporting documentation for the NIO. I have engaged with affected businesses. I held an update meeting with the council and businesses just last week. Unfortunately, it looks as though there is still some distance left to travel. That saddens me. No one wants to see the situation go on any longer, because residents and traders remain caught in the middle. Everyone wants the process to conclude so as to allow the clear-up to commence and the town to move on from the night of 30 May 2024.”
“The building remains a burnt-out shell. The footway along a section of Catherine Street in the town remains closed to pedestrian access. A number of parking bays remain closed to vehicles. The site is still littered with debris from the fire. <BR /> <BR />Members, here I am, yet again, exactly one year on. I am sick of looking at the site. The public mood was once one of frustration, but it is now one of anger. It has even caused splits in the town and the hurling of abuse. I am beyond frustrated to see an area of the town in which I grew up in that state.”
“Following a huge fire in Limavady town centre on the evening of 30 May 2024, I have raised the matter on two occasions in the Chamber. On the first occasion, I praised the Fire and Rescue Service, which had prevented an inferno at a former nightclub from destroying an entire street and, indeed, taking other buildings with it. Six months later, in the run-up to Christmas, I stood in the Chamber and called for all agencies and individuals to resolve the eyesore that stood on the entry point to the town centre.”
“My colleagues and I have consistently raised the failings of the Belfast Trust in the Chamber and at the Health Committee. We have had the maternity hospital, the children's hospital, the energy centre, the acute mental health inpatient facility and now cardiac surgery, yet the Minister has chosen not to take definitive action on the management arrangements. How many more fiascos do we need to bring to the Chamber before the Minister will take definitive action?”
“<BR /> <BR />We must remember that dentists do not go on strike — they leave. The rising costs of business and a lack of financial support are pushing them out. If we do not save NHS dentistry, more dentists will leave, worsening the problems that our constituents face in accessing dental services. <BR /> <BR />We also support the call for the immediate conclusion and publication of the general dental services cost-of-service review. Without understanding the true cost of delivering NHS dental care, the Department surely cannot fix a dental service that is under so much pressure and strain.”
“Absolutely. As usual, Ms Erskine, who is a capable and avid Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, pinpoints the issue well. <BR /> <BR />The inequality must be tackled so that better health outcomes can be afforded to all our people. It is clear that access to dental care is becoming increasingly determined by one's ability to pay, and that will only deepen existing health disparities. <BR /> <BR />We cannot lay the blame at the feet of dentists, who are just trying to keep their businesses afloat. We cannot blame patients, who are worried about access to treatment. Dentists play a vital role in the healthcare system, and we cannot sit by and watch as oral health is privatised. The benefits of routine dental care in early intervention and treatment must be recognised.”
“I go further: just over three quarters — 76% — of children in Northern Ireland are registered with a health service dentist, with children in the more deprived areas less likely to be registered with a dentist and much more likely to have dental decay. The Minister has outlined his commitment to addressing inequalities and improving access to NHS services, but our constituents face the reality that dental treatment is costly and is becoming a financial burden rather than a public health provision.”
“My party supports the call for the Minister of Health to develop and publish a new oral health strategy that sets out clearly how the Department will improve access, invest in prevention and build a dental workforce that is supported, valued and funded. <BR /> <BR />As I said, we want to see regional inequalities being addressed, regardless of someone's income, postcode or background. We people to have access to the dental care that they need when they need it. One glaring regional variation is in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, where fewer than 49% of the adult population are registered with a health service dentist.”
“Even those of us who have no special health experience know that untreated dental problems can lead to serious infections, nutritional issues, chronic pain and even hospital admission. In addition, dentists are on the front line in identifying oral cancer. On whom will that fall most heavily? Our most vulnerable: children, older people and those already facing huge barriers in accessing NHS dental care. <BR /> <BR />While dental treatments are important, early and preventative care is key. Regular check-ups normally prevent serious problems down the line and reduce the pressure on other parts of our health service, such as GP surgeries and A&E departments. It is always better to deal with the issues upstream than it is to try to deal with a dam that is leaking heavily.”
“That means fewer places for NHS patients, longer waiting lists and, ultimately, worsening oral health outcomes. National Insurance and wage increases have meant that dental services are teetering on the edge, with the likelihood of reduced opening hours and even cuts to staff numbers. To compound a depressing state of affairs, a cohort of dentists are approaching retirement. It feels that, for dentists, the perfect storm is above them, below them and, now, around them. <BR /> <BR />The figures for 2023-24 show that there were 364 dental practices and 1,195 dentists in them. However, what struck me was that 114 dentists — nearly 10% — handed back their NHS contracts in 2023-24. Worse still, only two of those practices are fully NHS practices. What is worrying is that oral health is not separate from general health.”
“On the other hand, the Minister and the Department of Health have warned about similar shortfalls in the Health budget; indeed, the Minister recently told us that he was not confident that he had enough budget to cover the forthcoming pay rises for health workers. I cannot help feeling that the people who depend on us are the ones who are being caught in the middle of the shifts between those two tectonic plates. The only positive is that things could have been worse had the ban on amalgam fillings from January 1 2025 been implemented. That can has been kicked down the road for another day. <BR /> <BR />It is well documented that many dentists are either scaling back or withdrawing from NHS contracts because the numbers simply do not add up in their practices.”
“It is right and positive for the House to collectively give a voice to the thousands of people across the Province who find it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to access basic dental care. Access to dental care should be a fundamental part of our health system, but data shows that, for too many individuals and families, particularly those on lower incomes, NHS dental care is becoming a service that is out of reach and one that, dentists tell us, hinges on urgent reform and fair funding. The British Dental Association has consistently made that clear and warned of the growing shortfall between what dentists are paid by the Department and the cost of delivering treatment.”
“We believe that including a call to "address regional inequalities" helps to strengthen the original motion. We thank the Alliance Members for bringing the motion to the House.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. In keeping with what tends to be the case with health motions, we hope that Members across the Chamber can support our amendment.”
“Like others, Minister, I welcome and acknowledge the progress and the work that is being done together on cancer research. Does the Minister acknowledge that it is very important that that work is embedded in the huge research hubs in Oxford, Cambridge and London? Will he also update the House on the cancer research strategy for Northern Ireland?”
“The BMA has said that the £3·5 million made available by the Department for the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions may not be enough to cover the actual cost to GPs. However, the Minister said in his statement that £3·5 million will cover the full cost. Can the Minister provide evidence that it will indeed cover the full cost and, if so, has that evidence been provided to the BMA?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Has her Department done an assessment of the potential economic benefits or spin-off opportunities for Northern Ireland, particularly for the former Shackleton Barracks site in Ballykelly? She will recall that, back in 2019, there were plans for the site to be a logistics hub.”
“"Legend" is a word that can sometimes be thrown around cheaply, but ask anyone to describe someone who has given 40 years of their life to their local sports club, and "legend" most certainly fits the bill. <BR /> <BR />The centenary is a fantastic achievement for Limavady Hockey Club and the Limavady community. I commend the players, coaching staff and fans for their hard work and dedication, and here's hoping for another fabulous 100 years.”
“It is important that clubs with a century-long history tell their story, and what better way to be recorded for future generations than to be noted in this Chamber of government? <BR /> <BR />I also congratulate the club for having scored, in its centenary year, its 100th goal — a defining target that it hoped to meet during this milestone year. Indeed, it went on to break that 100-goal target. By all accounts, the 100-year anniversary gala dinner at the weekend was a huge success. It allowed members past and present to reflect on the rich history of the club. <BR /> <BR />Today also affords me the opportunity to congratulate someone who is described as the backbone of the club, Rhonda McClelland, who has served the local sporting organisation for 40 years of its 100-year existence.”