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.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,031 lines we hold for Danny Donnelly, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 21.
“<BR /> <BR />People are being fed lies, and their frustrations are being preyed on by those who are seeking to further their own agendas. It is not migrants who decide the number of homes that are built. It is not asylum seekers who set your wages. It is not the families who are newly arriving here who choose whether hospitals get funding. Northern Ireland has been underfunded for years. We live in the shadow of our past, with an unstable stop-start Government, and that has a real and lasting impact on our lives and on the quality of living here. Instead of focusing on the need to reform our institutions so that they actually work for the people of this country, people are being told to turn on each other while those who are truly responsible watch it happen.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />First they came for the migrants, and I did not speak out, because I was not a migrant. Members may be aware of the famous poem 'First They Came' by Martin Niemöller. Although I changed the group, the point stands. Niemöller was a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany who originally sympathised with right-wing movements but later became a fierce critic of Nazi interference in the Protestant Church, spending years in prisons and concentration camps for his acts of resistance. His warning was clear: when prejudice and persecution go unchallenged, they spread. What begins as attacks on one group rarely ends there. The circle will always widen until you are no longer outside it.”
“Thanks to the Minister for that answer. I know that that will be disappointing to people. Given that the number of people who benefit from the independent living fund in Northern Ireland is reducing, will the Minister commit to keeping the same number of places open and open them to new applicants?”
“Last November, the chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine called the Minister's winter preparedness plan "too little, too late". Will the Minister give a timeline for the release of this year's winter preparedness plan and outline the lessons learned? How will it improve the ability of A&E departments and our hospitals to cope with the predictable annual increase in pressures across the health service and reassure patients and staff that this winter will be better?”
“To recognise those crimes is not to take a side in politics —”
“Those claims do not stand up. Even the US Government, Israel's closest ally, have produced internal reports finding no evidence of the systemic diversion of aid by Hamas. Another close ally, the former Foreign Secretary and the current Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, said:”
“Israel's foreign ministry has called it a:”
“The BBC has reported that the Israeli army body, Coordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), has dismissed the IPC's findings as:”
“That means that the most extreme level has been reached. To reach that point, three things must all be true: extreme food deprivation; acute malnutrition; and deaths caused by starvation. <BR /> <BR />The UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, said it plainly:”
“Every day, we see horrendous pictures on TV and social media of the ongoing atrocities against innocent civilians in Gaza. It has become normalised. Since May, the UN has recorded, at least 994 Palestinians have been killed near those food sites, among the 1,760 killed trying to get aid. Most were shot by Israeli troops, according to eyewitnesses and medics, although Israel denies that. Under that system, starvation in Gaza has only deepened. <BR /> <BR />The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization have all highlighted atrocities of starvation in Gaza, and they are clear that the famine must be stopped at all costs. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which is the UN's system for measuring hunger, has confirmed that famine is now a reality.”
“and he stated that it was his opinion that there is:”
“In doing so, Professor Maynard highlighted a pattern of:”
“<BR /> <BR />I attended an event last year — other Members who are present were also there — at which Professor Nick Maynard, who is a consultant gastrointestinal surgeon based in the University of Oxford in England has been visiting and working in Gaza since 2010, described having to do surgery on patients, often children, without dependable electricity, light or even analgesia. I cannot imagine the pain that those patients suffer or the impact on the brave medical professionals who risk their lives to do everything that they can to save lives in Gaza. <BR /> <BR />Professor Maynard describes parts of Gaza as "post-apocalyptic", with hospitals being bombed and medics and journalists routinely killed. Professor Maynard and others have been bearing witness and sharing their testimony at the Gaza tribunal in Westminster.”
“Language can be manipulated to suit an agenda of hiding true actions and motives behind an exploitative narrative. <BR /> <BR />Whether it is terrorism or state violence constituting a war crime, the words are different but the actions and the outcomes are the same, and the condemnation should be the same. It is about the pain and suffering of innocent people. <BR /> <BR />A BBC report confirms that Israel has replaced the UN's food system with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Instead of 400 community sites, there are now just four, all in heavily militarised zones. Palestinians must walk long distances under fire to reach them. The report states that the Palestinians face a choice "between starvation and death" — the literal definition of a deathtrap.”
“At what point did calling out mass starvation, mass murder and the erasure of an entire group of people mean that you support terrorism? I could try to explain the lack of basic human empathy behind that narrative. I can even talk about the lack of ability to think critically beyond bias that is so deeply engrained that it blinds reason, but that is exactly the point. Those who commit genocide, support genocide or deny genocide while it is unquestionably unfolding in front of the world are not people who listen to reason. <BR /> <BR />Language is a powerful tool. It shapes how we see the world and how we communicate our view of the world to others. When we tell a story, the language that we use moulds how others view our experiences.”
“The ongoing slaughter in Gaza is the number-one issue that I receive correspondence about by a huge distance. I get letters, phone calls, emails and visits to the office. People are absolutely appalled by what is going on. However, it is not about us, although the whataboutery on the issue is, sadly, predictable. Your opinion on genocide does not impact on your national identity. If I speak out against violence, starvation and genocide and your first thought is to ask whether I condemn Hamas, that exposes your ability to separate atrocities on the basis of who commits them, not mine. <BR /> <BR />In condemning violence, starvation and genocide, Hamas is included unequivocally and without question. When did the condemnation of genocide and the condemnation of terrorism become mutually exclusive?”
“Thank you. I heard you say that you support criticism of, or that you have criticised, the Israeli state at times. I have yet to hear any criticism of the Israeli state and Israeli state actions in what you have said. Can you clarify that?”
“<BR /> <BR />The LCM is therefore the right step. It future-proofs our health system and sends a clear message that human rights must follow the person and not the provider. It ensures that people in Northern Ireland who rely on mental health services will be protected with the same fairness and dignity as anyone across these islands. I support the motion. <BR /> <BR />My Health Committee colleague Nuala McAllister was also due to speak on the motion. Regrettably, she is unable to attend the debate. I hope that that will be swiftly resolved.”
“There is still work to do to ensure that standards are upheld at the highest level and that rights are not just promised in legislation but lived and enforced in reality. We have a chance to learn from serious flaws that were exposed in England, where gaps in the law left families without protections on which they should have been able to rely. There is an opportunity to act differently in Northern Ireland and to close that gap before it even opens. Too often, our health service finds itself in reactive mode, responding to crises after they have already caused harm. This Bill does the opposite: it is forward-thinking, it is problem-solving, and it prevents potential injustice before it even reaches our system. That is exactly the kind of approach that we need more of across the health service.”
“In Northern Ireland, our mental health services are governed under separate legislation. At present, there are no private providers offering inpatient mental health services in the jurisdiction. However, as other Members have noted, services evolve, pressures rise, and the day may come when private providers are commissioned to deliver inpatient care. The LCM ensures that, if that happens, patients here will not be left behind and will have the same fundamental protections as people elsewhere in the UK. <BR /> <BR />Of course, passing this law is only one part of the picture. I hope that, if private providers do come into the system here, correct pathways, oversight mechanisms and regulatory bodies are firmly in place to make sure that those protections are meaningful in practice.”
“It shows a two-tier system where the rights that you can exercise depend not on your needs but on whether the care is provided by the NHS directly or by a provider under contract. That cannot be right, and it cannot be allowed to remain. <BR /> <BR />One of the most important aspects of the motion is that it gives reassurance to patients and families. It tells them that, no matter how care is arranged, their rights will not be diluted. It gives a level of trust in a system that, for too long, has struggled under pressure and left many people feeling vulnerable and unheard. By closing that gap, we are providing better protections and standing behind people who use mental health services, ensuring that the protections that they deserve are firmly in place.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />The motion is about fairness and consistency. It is about ensuring that people in Northern Ireland who rely on mental health services have the same protections wherever their care is delivered and whoever delivers it. A court judgement in England exposed a serious flaw. It revealed that, where a private organisation is commissioned to deliver mental health care that is paid for with public money, the Human Rights Act does not always apply. In practice, that meant that patients who received publicly funded care in those settings could not rely on the same protection as those who were treated directly by the state. That gap in protection is unacceptable.”
“<BR /> <BR />We can all admire Preston's hard work, determination and talent, and I have no doubt that he has a very bright future in the sport. On behalf of everyone here, let me say congratulations, Preston. You have already done Carrickfergus, County Antrim and Northern Ireland proud, and we will be cheering you on in the years ahead.”
“I will take a moment to celebrate one of East Antrim's rising stars, 13-year-old Preston Creighton. Preston represents the renowned Evolution Boxing Club in Carrickfergus, which is a club with a proud tradition of producing champions, and he is already living up to that legacy. <BR /> <BR />In just his first year of competition, he has stepped into the ring 18 times, including for six international bouts, and he has risen to the challenge every time. He won the Antrim Championship four times, and, in Naples, he represented County Antrim with two outstanding performances. He has gone toe to toe with boxers from Scotland and Wales. Most impressively, he won the international gold at the Monkstown Box Cup, defeating Finland's national champion. That is an incredible record for anyone, never mind someone of just 13 years of age.”
“I was getting ahead of myself; I should have said that the Committee had agreed to request an extension to March 2026. I hope that that corrects the record.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I wish to correct the record. During yesterday's Second Stage debate on the Adult Protection Bill, I said:”
“I look forward to working with colleagues to scrutinise the Bill in detail to ensure that it is as strong as it possibly can be and to ensure that we can protect this vulnerable group from harm and abuse.”
“<BR /> <BR />That brings me to the scrutiny process. Given the scope and significance of the Bill, the Committee has proposed to extend the reporting deadline to March 2026. I support that extension. We cannot afford to rush the process, and we must also appreciate that other legislation will come from the Department before the end of this shortened mandate. <BR /> <BR />The legislation has the potential to make a real difference. It can provide protection where there are currently gaps. It can give professionals the tools that they need, and it can provide legal clarity and accountability. However, it will succeed only if it is properly funded, grounded in operational reality and developed in partnership with the people whom it affects the most. That is what we must now focus on.”
“<BR /> <BR />Thirdly, on accountability and oversight, the Bill creates new criminal offences of ill treatment and neglect by carers and proposes to regulate CCTV use in settings where adults may be at risk. I appreciate that the Minister has highlighted the fact that there will be a full public consultation on the CCTV regulations. That should happen as soon as possible. Those are sensitive and important areas, and they require careful thought. We have heard multiple times today about how important the CCTV evidence was in exposing the abuse at Muckamore. Who will monitor compliance? What mechanisms will exist to challenge inappropriate use? How will the provisions interact with existing human rights and safeguarding duties? Those are the kinds of issues that the Committee will need to probe in depth.”
“<BR /> <BR />Secondly, on workforce, the Bill assigns significant new responsibilities to social workers, including the responsibility to apply for court orders, to make protection assessments and to coordinate responses. We know, however, that social work teams across the system and across Northern Ireland are under immense pressure already. There are real and growing problems with recruitment, retention and burnout. Has the Department assessed whether the current workforce has the capacity to absorb the new statutory duties? The Health Committee has heard so many times about the pressures resulting from social work vacancy numbers, so will there be additional recruitment, training and support? We cannot simply legislate for new duties without resourcing the people who are tasked with carrying them out.”
“<BR /> <BR />First, on funding, the Department's estimate is that the Bill's provisions will cost approximately £12 million per year, which is more than £120 million over a decade, yet, as others have highlighted, the Department has acknowledged that no funding has been secured for the Bill's implementation. That is a serious concern that risks turning this into a paper exercise, with legislation on the books that cannot meaningfully be delivered in practice. That is not fair on the professionals whom we expect to uphold it or the adults whom we claim it will protect. If the Bill is to have a real-world impact, funding must follow.”
“It also seeks to rebuild trust among families, which has been damaged over recent years when their loved ones have been placed in such institutions. <BR /> <BR />Support for that principle must come with scrutiny of its practical delivery. The Bill is substantial. It consists of 51 clauses, which cover legal powers for social workers, the creation of new criminal offences, regulation of CCTV in care settings and the establishment of a new adult protection board. We must ask, therefore, whether the legislation is realistic, enforceable and resourced.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak at the Second Stage of the Adult Protection Bill. I support the principle behind the legislation: a stronger statutory framework to safeguard adults who are at risk of harm and abuse. That vulnerable adults deserve consistent and effective protection from neglect, exploitation and mistreatment is not in question. The Bill is long overdue, and, in that respect, its introduction is a positive and necessary step forward following the horrendous scandals at Dunmurry Manor care home and Muckamore Abbey Hospital. The Bill offers the potential to bring clarity to front-line professionals and consistency to health trusts on how to respond to risk and, crucially, to better protect vulnerable adults who are in need.”
“Thanks to the Minister for that. What action is he taking to deliver the investment necessary to meet the needs and realise the potential of all regional and subregional sports stadia in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. We all know that there were horrendous issues with fires across Northern Ireland in the spring. What role can peatland restoration play in enhancing resilience to fires in our countryside?”
“I ask the Minister for an update on the rationale behind not previously including sheep support in the sustainable agriculture programme.”
“An impact assessment should be carried out to inform clear operational guidance, define lines of responsibility and accountability and address potential operational challenges in order to ensure safe and effective implementation and safeguard the continued safe supply of medicines by community pharmacies. <BR /> <BR />If we can get this right, we can deliver innovation and support for a sector that is desperately in need, but we can do so only by working in partnership with Community Pharmacy and ensuring that robust protections are firmly in place. It now falls to the Department to provide clear guidance and safeguards that will give pharmacists the confidence to move forward.”
“In particular, further clarification is needed on how contractual responsibilities will align with the continuing statutory obligations of the responsible pharmacist under existing regulations. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, my understanding is that Community Pharmacy is cautiously supportive of these measures and welcomes this model over the direct hub-to-patient model. The proposals offer an opportunity to modernise aspects of pharmaceutical practice while strengthening the clinical role of community pharmacies. While the regulations are being introduced on an optional basis, the concerns raised are valid and should be addressed.”
“However, it is not yet clear how consistently or thoroughly those agreements will set out the responsibilities in practice, especially in cases where an error occurs during assembly at the hub. That highlights the need for clear, detailed guidance to ensure that hubs and spokes have shared understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities. <BR /> <BR />The request for an impact assessment is, I feel, reasonable. Such an assessment would be important in informing the development of detailed guidance in collaboration with the sector, providing pharmacists with confidence that they can remain protected within a framework that reflects the operational realities of hub-and-spoke models.”
“Currently, under the existing model, the responsible pharmacist, the spoke pharmacy, has legal and professional responsibility for all medicines supplied to patients. In a hub-and-spoke model, however, that pharmacist may not have directly overseen or verified the assembly of the medicines at the hub. While the final checks will still be made at the spoke, separating assembly from supply introduces additional complexity in determining who is liable for a dispensing error, if one should occur. <BR /> <BR />Other members and I highlighted those concerns during the Health Committee's scrutiny. In response, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer from the Department of Health confirmed that, while legislation does not itself specify where the legal responsibility lies, it will rely on the contractual agreements between the hub-and-spoke parties.”
“<BR /> <BR />I understand that, currently, the regulations are optional and that pharmacies are under no obligation to adopt them at this stage, but legitimate concerns remain in the community pharmacy sector. Should that approach become widespread, we should ensure that any system that is adopted is fair, robust and, above all, safe. I make it clear that we should welcome steps forward in improving aspects of our health service and that I recognise the potential benefits of the proposals, but I am also mindful of the valid concerns that have been raised. If we move towards implementation, it is vital that we continue close engagements with pharmacists, Community Pharmacy NI and the wider sector and give serious consideration to the issues that they have raised.”
“While I am hopeful that these measures will help to alleviate some of those pressures, it is essential that we continue to support the sector and listen carefully to its concerns. Having engaged with the sector, I believe that, of the two options that were presented, the current model, model 1, was the preferred option. During consultation, stakeholders in Northern Ireland expressed significant concerns about model 2, which presented a hub-to-patient approach that removed the traditional community aspect from community pharmacies. While model 1 is the more acceptable option, it is not without its challenges. I therefore urge the Minister and the Department to undertake a full impact assessment of that model.”
“At their core, these regulations aim to deliver greater flexibility and efficiency and to potentially allow for better allocation of clinical capacity in pharmacy services. By enabling medicine assembly to take place centrally in regulated specialised hubs, there is a reasonable expectation that pharmacists in community spoke pharmacies will have more time for direct patient care, medicine optimisation and preventative work. Those areas are increasingly important as we seek to build multidisciplinary approaches to primary care, particularly given the Minister's plans to shift left. <BR /> <BR />It is also important to recognise the vital role that community pharmacies play in our healthcare system and the increasing pressures that they continue to face.”
“A particular highlight of the afternoon was the surprise visit from the Red Arrows, captivating the crowds as they soared across Carrickfergus in a flawless diamond formation, trailing colourful smoke across a bright blue sky. This remarkable event has grown each year in size, ambition and impact, and I have no doubt that it will continue to go from strength to strength. The event is inclusion in action and a shining example of what our communities can achieve when we come together. <BR /> <BR />I place on record my sincere thanks and congratulations to the Learning Disability Pride organisers for their dedication in bringing this uplifting celebration to Carrickfergus once again.”
“We were privileged to hear the Hill Croft School's Makaton choir perform, listen to Caleb from Caleb's Cause deliver a heartfelt, specially written poem and welcome the official ambassador for the event, the model and advocate Kate Grant, who made history as the first model with Down's Syndrome to win an international beauty title. <BR /> <BR />Beyond the celebrations, the event also shone a light on the extraordinary work being done by so many organisations to support people with learning disabilities to live rich, fulfilling and independent lives. It was a pleasure to meet some of them on the day, including AEL, which provides vital training and employment opportunities, and Bears FC, whose 60 players train regularly and compete in a dedicated league, offering not only sport but friendship, confidence and community.”
“The creativity shown by the costumes, performances and displays was a true reflection of the energy and talent in our learning disability community. <BR /> <BR />As the celebrations carried on into the afternoon, the harbour car park came alive with vibrant activity. Uplifting performances by members of the local learning disability community were followed by live music from the host, Q Radio's Amy McGuckin. A colourful array of local food and craft stalls also added to the festival atmosphere. The weather was with us, and the energy was infectious, creating lasting memories for all who attended. The day's programme featured many inspiring moments.”
“On Saturday, I was delighted to attend Learning Disability Pride 2025 in Carrickfergus, in my constituency of East Antrim. The day was filled with creativity, joy and community spirit. It was a vibrant and inclusive occasion, celebrating individuals with learning disabilities and raising awareness across the wider community. I pay tribute to the organisers and everyone who took part in delivering such a positive, uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable event. <BR /> <BR />The day began with a spectacular carnival parade, which set off from Carrickfergus Rangers Football Club and made its way along the seafront to the castle. The streets were alive with music, dancing and laughter, as schools, community groups and organisations, such as Access Employment Ltd (AEL), Mencap, the Greenisland Bears and many more, proudly took part.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. It has been a long-developing issue. I am glad to hear that the Minister will share that report with the Committee. The project is 10 years behind. The cost is now expected to be in excess of £97 million, and with this work, I expect, there will be a price tag as well. What is that price tag, and does the Minister know when mothers will be able to have their babies in the Royal maternity hospital.”
“As chair of the all-party group on learning disability, I welcome the Minister's statement. It may not be everything that everyone had hoped for, but I hope that it is a turning point and a start that can and should be built on, with the other Departments, to ensure improved provision for all our young people with additional needs. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister share the results of her review with MLAs and/or relevant groups such as Caleb's Cause that have campaigned for so long?”
“Does the Minister believe that the strategic rating review road map set out by his predecessor is still the best course of action to enable a much-needed comprehensive review of the rating system?”