Danny Donnelly
East Antrim · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for that answer. It will not satisfy the people of the area. The completion of the 3 km distributor road was planned to be a key part of the development, linking hundreds of houses to the wider road network, but, due to a planning issue by her Department in the 1990s, it never happened.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, as you mentioned in your statement, the inquiry was highly critical of what it describes as "an adversarial and oppositional approach" by the Belfast Trust to the inquiry.”
“The Minister mentioned the need to reform the health service. In light of the recent startling figures that show that half a billion pounds was spent on locums over the past three years, does he agree that investment in attracting permanent doctors may be a more prudent use of Department of Health resource?”
“<BR /> <BR />As a nurse, I condemn the attacks in the strongest possible terms and highlight the specific impact that they have had on people who care for us when we are at our most vulnerable.”
“Every day, they treat patients with skill, compassion and professionalism. Let us be absolutely clear: when a nurse is intimidated on her way to work and chased by masked men into the Ulster Hospital, that is an attack on our health service.”
“I will speak today about the attacks on our international healthcare staff. I begin by saying that my thoughts are with the victim of the brutal attack in north Belfast and his family. I hope that he recovers well. <BR /> <BR />Violence has no place in our society.”
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“The question for the Assembly and for every Department and every Minister is whether we have the political courage to follow through. We cannot afford to paper over the cracks again. We cannot afford complacency or cynicism. What we can afford, and what the public expects from us now, is leadership. Let this Budget be the start of doing things differently. No more of the same, but better.”
“Let us talk about transformation. The £21·3 million allocated from the transformation fund is welcome, and the further £25·7 million held centrally represents an opportunity. Let us not allow that money to sit idle. It must be activated quickly and aimed at shifting the foundations, not just tweaking at the top. I welcome the commitment of £69 million this year towards the new mother and children's hospital as part of the broader £671 million project, but that must not repeat the infrastructure mistakes of the past, whereby capital builds that went way over schedule and way over budget were still unfit for purpose before they were even open. We need real and working infrastructure that delivers for people, not just headline ribbon-cutting. <BR /> <BR />This Budget does not solve everything, but it sets a tone.”
“It is not just a moral failure; it is a strategic one. That is not a system that values prevention but one that chronically undervalues what works because it is not hospital-based.”
“Let us be absolutely clear: if those organisations disappear, the cost will be felt not just in our communities but across the whole system in GP practices, A&E departments and mental health crisis teams and in care for long-term conditions that could have been prevented, treated or managed earlier.”
“So often the glue between statutory services and people's lived experiences, organisations in that sector work at the sharp end of health, tackling important issues such as sexual health, HIV awareness, addiction, domestic abuse, cancer support and mental well-being. Year after year, however, they are left in limbo, waiting to know whether funding will come through. Now we are seeing something even more worrying. Organisations such as Positive Life and others that were previously supported through the reduced core grant scheme are being left without the necessary funding to continue, and some are facing closure.”
“They need multidisciplinary teams to be built up around them, with mental health professionals, social workers and physiotherapists, but many practices still do not have access to those supports. <BR /> <BR />Our pharmacists have stepped up again and again by delivering vaccines, offering triage and keeping pressure off GPs and hospitals, but they are barely breaking even under the current model. Many are using their savings to keep their services running. That is not resilience; that is fragility wearing a brave face. <BR /> <BR />Dentists are absorbing high-risk caseloads of children and vulnerable adults, yet they still operate under a contract that was designed for a different time. As we all know, few dentists in Northern Ireland now take on NHS patients. <BR /> <BR />Then, there is the voluntary and community sector.”
“<BR /> <BR />I turn to primary care, the bedrock of our health system and, as we have heard today, a part of the system that has been neglected for far too long. I welcome the £3·5 million that has been allocated to support GPs, dentists, pharmacists and family health services with increased employer costs, but let us not pretend that that addresses the deeper truth, which is that our entire primary care model is outdated for the demands that are being placed on it. GPs are dealing with complex and unmanageable pressure, and many have now been forced to consider returning their contract. They need adequate funding in order to prevent those contract hand-backs.”
“The challenge now is to use that platform not reactively but strategically. <BR /> <BR />It is right that £215 million has been earmarked for elective care and to reduce waiting lists. That is essential. Patients have waited far too long, many of them in pain, and for some, sadly, it will be too late. This is not about queue lengths but about dignity and people being seen when they need help, not when it is too late. We have been through waiting list initiatives before, but what has changed structurally to stop them growing again? What is there to stop the Assembly collapsing tomorrow and there being another five years of inaction in this place? If the money simply buys short-term outsourcing and does not reduce the need for repeated cycles of intervention, we will be right back here next year.”
“I will reflect on the 2025-26 Budget through the lens of health, which is a subject that affects every person and family across Northern Ireland. I begin with a welcome but also with some realism. The Budget arrives against a backdrop of sustained austerity from Westminster in a period of rising inflation and growing demand on a health system that is under immense pressure. I welcome the intent, but let us be honest: money alone will not solve the problem. How we use it will define whether the Budget represents a turning point or a missed opportunity. Yes, the £8·5 billion that was allocated to Health is significant — it is over 50% of all day-to-day spending — but, if we do not change how we work and not just how much we spend, we will keep cycling through the same crises. The Budget, though imperfect, gives us a platform.”
“There is no denying that today's announcement certainly shows progress out of some of the mess of Brexit. What will the SPS agreement mean for people and businesses in Northern Ireland?”
“Has the Minister had a discussion with the Infrastructure Minister about a new funding model for Northern Ireland Water?”
“Our GPs deliver 10 million appointments every year on 5·4% of an £8 billion Health budget. That is significantly below the 8% to 10% in other UK nations. Your stated ambition is to shift left into the primary and community sector. What justification is there for continuing to underfund GP practices in Northern Ireland? Will you commit to a plan to move closer to parity with the rest of the UK?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. What is the Minister's assessment of the delay to the interconnector, with reference to planning objections from the Republic of Ireland?”
“The Minister is keen to act on screening, and he has previously said that it is something that he cares about. Sadly, we know that one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. Cancer does not wait, so neither should we.”
“<BR /> <BR />Cancer care, like so much else, cannot thrive in a system in which governance is intermittent. We need a stable Government that function consistently, cohesively and with accountability. The current model is failing patients, and that situation cannot go on. It is also vital that we protect and support our health workforce, because the truth is that no reform, no matter how ambitious, will work unless we have the people to deliver it. Nurses, radiologists, oncologists and so many others are exhausted, and too many are leaving the system. <BR /> <BR />I urge the Minister to look at increasing the availability of screening by lowering the age for bowel cancer screening and by introducing a plan to screen for lung cancer. Perhaps he can speak to that in his remarks.”
“They must challenge Departments and empower them to cut through the layers of bureaucracy and to prioritise front-line services where they are needed most. That means institutional reform. <BR /> <BR />For too long, our health system has been burdened by fragmented structures, sluggish processes and the recurring pattern of stop-start governance. That instability has paralysed long-term planning, undermined investment in critical services and left Departments scrambling to manage crisis after crisis. In the nine years since the release of the Bengoa report in 2016, we have had a functioning Assembly for only four years, owing to the shutdowns of this place by the two biggest parties. We know that the Assembly is only as stable today as it was the day before the most recent shutdown.”
“Multi-year Budgets are not optional but essential if we are to stop firefighting and instead start planning. Every pound that we spend must be tied to outcomes. We absolutely need short-term wins, such as more appointments, faster access and backlogs cleared, but they alone will not solve the problem. Rather, we need lasting, structural reform. <BR /> <BR />There has been progress made, such as investment in long-term capacity, rapid diagnostic centres, mega-clinics and elective care hubs and better use of digital systems and technology in order to streamline care. I welcome the Minister's recent announcement and his plans to address waiting times, but I stress that those plans cannot become another forum for discussion. They must deliver.”
“That is a significant investment, but, let us be honest, money without vision and accountability will not be enough. We cannot ignore the fact that we already have a comprehensive cancer strategy, which was launched in 2022 with broad political and sectoral support, yet, three years on, it remains largely underfunded. A strategy without resources is just a press release. If we are serious about change, we must back our ambitions with actual investment and not just intentions. <BR /> <BR />Let us not forget that sustainable health reform cannot be delivered through one-year Budgets. Hospitals, trusts and front-line services cannot plan staffing, invest in diagnostic capacity or roll out innovations when they have only 12 months of certainty.”
“The statistics represent not a marginal failure but a systemic breakdown, and, critically, the statistics are not a one-off but part of a pattern that has become dangerously routine. We regularly get updates on missed targets. Not delivering has become normal. As Mrs Dodds said, news reports barely mention the missed targets. The evidence is clear that early diagnosis and treatment saves lives. A delay of just four weeks in starting cancer treatment can increase the risk of death by up to 8%. Those are not abstract figures. Rather, they are measured in lives that have been shortened, in more aggressive treatment plans and by the emotional toll on patients and their families, who are navigating a longer and more uncertain journey. <BR /> <BR />The Executive have recently allocated £215 million in the Budget to address waiting lists.”
“I fear that, in among all the noise, we are beginning to lose sight of what the numbers represent. We are here today because every missed cancer target is a person: a woman waiting weeks to hear whether a lump is cancerous; a father whose treatment is delayed; or a family who are trapped in uncertainty. The debate is not about systems but about lives. As has been said, we all know somebody who has been affected by cancer.”
“I thank Mrs Dodds and Mr Robinson for tabling the motion. We have heard plenty of statistics already, and they are harrowing. We miss every target. Unacceptable delays are now normalised, and, yes, the numbers are awful.”
“We frequently hear about the pressures on the health system, and it is true to say that the service runs on the goodwill of healthcare workers. That is neither fair nor sustainable. Nursing is a safety-critical profession, and nurses working on the front line in overcrowded A&E departments or busy wards frequently work under high pressure for long periods. There are high rates of sickness absence due to stress and mental health impacts, and there is a significant moral injury. <BR /> <BR />This year, I hope to see the Health Minister progress the safe staffing Bill, which is urgently needed to improve the health, well-being and safety of patients and staff. We need to prioritise the well-being of nurses so that they can continue to provide the high-quality care that is critical to the health of our communities.”
“International Nurses' Day is celebrated each year on 12 May, which was Florence Nightingale's birthday. Today, she would have been 205. The International Day of the Midwife was last week, and I have no doubt that Members from across the Chamber will join me in thanking our nurses and midwives for all that they do across the health service for all of us when their care is needed. I am very proud to be part of that wonderful profession, and I encourage any young person who wants a challenging and rewarding career to consider nursing. <BR /> <BR />The theme for this year is "Caring for nurses strengthens economies". It seeks to highlight how a healthy and secure nursing workforce is crucial to the overall functioning of healthcare. Without healthcare staff, there is no health service.”
“I agree with Mr Brett that dilapidated buildings are a blight on our towns and villages, including in East Antrim, so I am keen to see the Bill progress. How will the Bill enable councils to take action to protect our built heritage?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement today. There is certainly a lot in it. While the ambition is welcome, it is concerning that mental health services are noticeably absent. The Minister will be aware that thousands of people across Northern Ireland are suffering on mental health waiting lists for treatment and even assessment. Will the Minister confirm whether mental health provision will be included in forthcoming investment and reform programmes?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Minister, you stated that you were able to fund 14 initiatives. I am aware that one of those — the Family First programme — supports people in my constituency. Are you able to say a bit more about the services that can be provided by that scheme?”
“It would improve the health of our population and reduce the number of people who develop severe complications, such as heart disease. It is about more than just policy; it is about people. Alliance will continue to push for a diabetes strategy that is fit for the future. That is why we will support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The technological advances that we mentioned, such as the hybrid closed-loop system, are making the management of blood sugars much easier for people living with diabetes every day. We need ambition, coordination and, above all, leadership. Without those, we will simply keep spending more to achieve less, and patients will continue to pay the price. It is no secret that Alliance has been calling for reform for years — reform of our institutions, our health system and the way that decisions are made. Time and time again, we see issues such as this suffer because of outdated, reactive and siloed thinking. Diabetes care is a prime example of where joined-up strategic policy would make a real difference not just to the budget but to real people every day.”
“Community-based care matters, and those things can and do change lives. I agree with Philip McGuigan that education programmes are hugely important. <BR /> <BR />It is also clear that we need more than just piecemeal improvements. We need systemic reform. Tackling diabetes properly means having a clear joined-up strategy that puts prevention, early diagnosis, education and consistent support at its heart. It means making sure that, no matter where you live in Northern Ireland, you can expect the same high standard of care as others. It means investing in community services to keep people well, not just treating complications when it is already too late.”
“We need a system that is not just reactive but forward-looking, integrated, evidence-based and focused on prevention. Northern Ireland should be part of the National Diabetes Audit just like every other region in the UK. <BR /> <BR />Alliance is committed to ensuring that diabetes receives the attention that it deserves here in the Assembly, in our local health trusts and at a departmental level. We are working closely with healthcare professionals and organisations, such as Diabetes UK, to promote best practice across the board, whether that is supporting people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to access the community-based care that they need or ensuring that women with gestational diabetes receive informed continuous support throughout their pregnancies. Early intervention and prevention matter.”
“Diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which can lead to serious complications, such as heart attacks, angina and strokes. According to Diabetes UK, complications that are linked to diabetes cost our health service £162 million a year. That figure that is projected to rise to over £290 million within the next decade. That is simply not sustainable. <BR /> <BR />While the number of cases and costs are rising, the same cannot be said for standards in care, innovation, treatment or accountability in outcomes. Like Philip, I have also noticed the advances in technology that Cheryl mentioned. You will see people at sports events or running marathons and things like that with censors on. People are using the technological advances to make their life easier. They certainly are a huge benefit.”
“I am pleased to speak in support of the motion, which highlights the challenge facing thousands of people across Northern Ireland: the growing impact of diabetes on individuals, families and our health service. I thank Cheryl Brownlee, a DUP member, for tabling the motion for debate. I had not heard of the balloon analogy, but it is very apt when talking about trying to maintain safe blood sugars. <BR /> <BR />As a nurse, I am very aware of the impact of diabetes on a patient and a family and of the treatment of diabetes. I have given insulin many times and delivered other treatments. Today, almost 115,000 people in Northern Ireland are living with diabetes, and that number is rising by more than 3,000 every year. It is not just individuals who are feeling the strain; our health service is under increasing pressure too.”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. We have seen a recent example in Lisburn, as well as examples in the past few years outside new housing developments in places as far afield as Antrim and Dungannon, of flags and symbols being intentionally used to intimidate local residents. What steps are being taken to end such intimidation and enable people to live free of territory marking in that way?”
“There is great instability and uncertainty in global trade due to the Trump tariffs. Does the First Minister recognise the ongoing damage caused by trade friction of any kind and the need to maximise the benefits of Northern Ireland being able to trade at least for goods in all directions as freely as possible?”
“Community pharmacy has been identified as a key part of the response to additional winter pressures. Will the Minister invest in stabilising that sector in order to maximise the role that it plays in supporting the health service to respond to additional winter pressures and meeting patients' needs closer to home?”
“There is worldwide scientific consensus that climate change is happening and is man-made, resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. Organisations such as NASA, the Royal Society and the Met Office are all very clear on that. Does the Member know better than them?”
“No one is pretending that reform is easy, but the alternative — continuing as we are — is simply not sustainable: not morally, not socially and not economically. <BR /> <BR />The motion is not just a critique of what has gone wrong; it is a call to fix it, to review the scheme urgently, to invest properly in the groups that hold our communities together and to commit to a political culture that does not leave people guessing whether help will come or whether government will show up. I urge my fellow Members to support the motion.”
“That persistent instability is more than a matter of inconvenience; it harms the delivery of public services, undermines public confidence, deepens inequality and places undue strain on those already most in need. <BR /> <BR />We must face an uncomfortable truth: short-term thinking, siloed funding and reactive policy are no longer fit for purpose. Health does not exist in isolation; it is shaped by housing, education, justice and community. If we want to build a health system that is truly preventative and person-centred, we need Departments working together, not in parallel but in partnership. Reform must mean more than new structures; it must mean smarter investment, clearer outcomes and real accountability for delivery.”
“When we talk about impact, we are not speaking in abstract terms; we are talking about the people of Northern Ireland — our constituents, friends, families and those who look to the Assembly and its Members to make the right decisions in their best interests. It is the people of Northern Ireland who, all too often, find themselves bearing the consequences of political indecision. <BR /> <BR />The uncertainty faced by the community and voluntary organisations as they await news of vital new funding every year mirrors a broader reality: the public, too, are left in a state of perpetual anticipation, wondering not whether but when the institutions of government will, once again, be brought to a halt.”
“Positive Life, an affected organisation and Northern Ireland’s only dedicated HIV charity, has said that the cost of treating one additional person with HIV here could fund its core cost for three years. That highlights the fact that there is a growing and dangerous misalignment between how much the Department relies on the sector and how little it invests in its ability to deliver. It also raises the question of whether there has been any real assessment of the cost of losing those services. Has any impact analysis been carried out to understand what happens to communities when those groups are forced to close their doors? <BR /> <BR />The Minister has said that there will be "winners and losers" in the process. I urge Members to pause and seriously reflect on who those so-called losers will be.”
“The budget for the core grant scheme has been slashed from £3·6 million to just £1·8 million. That decision, made in the absence of a functioning Executive, has had devastating consequences for organisations that provide front-line support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. <BR /> <BR />As mentioned by Diane Dodds, the Department of Health’s equality impact assessment recognised that the removal of the funding would impact on older people, children, people in the LGBT community, people with disabilities and carers. Further to that, among those with dependants, it will disproportionately affect women, who make up 82% of unpaid carers. <BR /> <BR />NICVA — the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action — pointed out that less than 6% of applicants received funding this year, a figure that speaks volumes.”
“There is a need for meaningful engagement with the sector to consider how the fund can be taken forward in the coming years. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Members and the Minister for participating in this important debate to support the Committee motion. <BR /> <BR />I will also take the opportunity to speak in my capacity as an Alliance MLA spokesperson on health. I thank all Members who contributed to the discussion and to my fellow members on the Health Committee for their work on tabling the motion. The discussions today underscore a collective concern for the well-being of our constituents and the indispensable role played by the voluntary and community sector in safeguarding public health. However, concern must translate into decisive action. The reality that we face today is stark.”
“It is clear that if we want to see the shift left, to which the Minister referred, with services being delivered closer to the community, we need to have a framework in place that will allow services to be provided. Many of the services that we want to see moved into the community will be delivered by the community and voluntary sector. However, if we do not put the support frameworks in now, we may lose many of the organisations. <BR /> <BR />We need sustainable funding in the community and voluntary sector that will allow it to meet the needs of our communities and their support. That is why the Committee is calling for the Minister to urgently review the core grant scheme and consider how additional funding can be identified and rolled out to many of the 234 organisations and charities that were unsuccessful in the process.”
“Our primary care services are very stretched and in financial difficulty. We have massive gaps in our social care workforce, and we have over 250 organisations and charities that want to be funded and involved in the delivery of services across Northern Ireland. We must find a way to support those organisations and charities. As a Committee, we have seen at first hand, over the past year, the important roles and work of the sector. It is providing some of the really innovative approaches to services. It has also proven that it can deliver services to those who are particularly difficult to reach or who will not engage with the statutory sector.”
“He highlighted the difference between previous motions that were initially directed at the Finance Minister and pointed out that £53 million was commissioned from services from the community and voluntary sector in the previous financial year. He said that the previous scheme had been in place for 20 years, and he spoke about his positive engagement with the community and voluntary sector. The Minister also said that he will look again at the scheme for next year and recounted his meaningful engagement with the community and voluntary sector over many years. He is looking forward to multi-year budgets, which will be a game changer for the community and voluntary sector. <BR /> <BR />We know that our health and social care system is a very challenging place. We have the longest waiting lists in western Europe.”
“<BR /> <BR />My colleague Nuala McAllister pointed out that cuts to the core grant have led to service collapse and gave the example of a day respite service provider in her constituency that has been affected by the cut. <BR /> <BR />Alan Chambers called the motion "factually flawed" and pointed out that although the Minister was under financial pressure, he had continued to fund the scheme. <BR /> <BR />Cara Hunter pointed out that community and voluntary sector groups are plugging the gaps in services that are needed in healthcare delivery and highlighted that the instability of the cuts is having an impact on the sector. She gave the example of the work of Northlands in the north-west. It supports people with addiction but has lost its core grant funding. <BR /> <BR />Moving on to the Minister's contribution.”
“The Chair of the Health Committee opened the debate, highlighting the expertise and specialist knowledge that those organisations bring to our communities and acknowledging the work that they did during the pandemic. He also pointed out that not funding those services will ultimately cost the Department more. <BR /> <BR />Diane Dodds pointed out that the funding is 0·02% of the Health budget, and she gave the example of Relate, which gets 40% of its referrals from statutory services, such as GPs. She also highlighted that community and voluntary sector service delivery is embedded in several key strategies, such as the mental health strategy.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. On behalf of the Committee, I thank all Members for their contributions and thank the Minister for his response to the debate. I look forward to engagement with the Minister and the Department on taking the issue forward and on how we might empower and support our community and voluntary sector, which undertakes an extremely important role in our health and social care system. <BR /> <BR />I thank all staff and volunteers in our community and voluntary sector who play a key role in supporting our communities and improving health and social care outcomes for those in our communities. You are an invaluable part of our health system, and, this afternoon, we recognise your contribution. <BR /> <BR />I will now comment on what some Members and the Minister said.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Is this deviating from the theme of the debate?”
“<BR /> <BR />The amendment represents progress: a clear and necessary modernisation of how we regulate clinical trials that will make it faster and easier to run safe, effective and ethical studies. It puts transparency and public trust at the heart of clinical research, and it gives Northern Ireland the tools to be a leader in health sciences, discovery and patient care. I support the regulations, and I urge all Members to do the same.”