Peter McReynolds
East Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I start by sharing my condolences and those of my party colleagues to the family of Kourtney McCormick on her tragic passing. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the important next step in the introduction of the graduated driver licensing scheme as Alliance spokesperson for Infrastructure, a Policing Board member and chair of the all-party group on r…”
“<BR /> <BR />I commend those from the driving instructor industry, the DVA and those in the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership for all their work in preparing for the smooth introduction of the GDL measures. They have been proactive and thorough in ensuring that they understand what is expected of them to make GDL a success story.”
“We have already had 33 road deaths this year alone, and more than 150 since 2024. It is clear that more needs to be done to improve road safety.”
“The revised restrictions will include a mandatory minimum learning period of six months; a programme of training; a logbook; passenger restrictions; new R-plates; the extension of the post-test period to 24 months; and removal of the 45 mph speed limit on motorways.”
“First Minister, the Institute of Directors and the Construction Employers Federation are still calling for the establishment of an independent, expert-led infrastructure commission some five years after it appeared on page 27 of the previous Executive's COVID recovery plan, to which you were a co-signatory.”
“<BR /> <BR />East Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole have huge potential for aviation development, and the master plan is just one part of a larger move towards sustainable and environmentally friendly travel.”
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Every one of 445 lines we hold for Peter McReynolds, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 9.
“Minister, why is the installation of event duration monitors and more real-time reporting being prioritised at bathing sites?”
“Minister, the responses to the consultation proposals were clear that teachers do not support a move from linear to modular qualifications. I listened to your response to Mr O'Toole. What do you say to those in the teaching profession who feel that you are ignoring their opinions by moving forward with these proposals?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. I am keen to see any support that will encourage people to incorporate renewables into their homes. What assurances can you provide that support will encourage people at the scale that we need it to?”
“The work that you do saves lives and cannot be overstated. I hope that, one day, I will no longer need to make statements such as this.”
“As an all-party group, we hear regularly from Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, whose work on road safety is essential to improving safety for all road users. At the meetings, we hear about what can be done to improve road safety, and we will continue to advocate for safety measures to be implemented across Northern Ireland to ensure that such tragedies do not occur elsewhere. I encourage MLAs to attend the meetings of the group to learn more about what we can do together to ensure that the roads are safer for our constituents as we work towards reducing the number of road deaths to zero. <BR /> <BR />I express my sincere thanks to all in the emergency services who responded and attended the scene: the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.”
“I rise as chair of the all-party group on road safety to acknowledge the tragedy that occurred in County Armagh over the weekend. Three people tragically lost their lives far too soon. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of Conor Quinn, Laura Hoy and John Guy, who will be deeply impacted by what happened. I wish those who were injured a full and speedy recovery. <BR /> <BR />Every death on our roads is one too many, which is why I started the all-party group on road safety. Road safety matters to us all, and we must all be part of the solution. Since the group was created, there have been 80 deaths on our roads. Each time we meet, there are more tragedies to reflect on, and I wish that that was not the case.”
“I thank the First Minister for her response. Extreme heat, as a direct consequence of climate change, is predicted to result in 100 deaths a year in Northern Ireland. Flooding and heavy rainfall can have devastating consequences for farmers, families, businesses and coastal communities. With Northern Ireland producing more CO2 per year per person than China, does the First Minister share the view of the deputy First Minister who recently told the Executive Office Committee that a local climate change commissioner would not add any value?”
“Minister, will you advise the House of the action that your Department is taking to address sexual-related offending?”
“At present, we are in limbo, with many people being forced to pay for life-changing and transformative care in a service that should and must be commissioned. The community want it, but GPs want it too to be able to support and get the best out of people living with ADHD. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the debate, and I am grateful that ADHD is staying on the agenda, but we seriously need to get it done. Too many people are suffering, living in misery and having to cope as best as they can. We can make a real difference if we want to do so. I encourage support for the motion and our amendment.”
“I am proud to have used my role as chair of the all-party group on ADHD to shine a light on the absolute injustice facing thousands across Northern Ireland and the lost generations of adults who have been labelled "lazy", "disruptive" or "unfocused". The fundamental and essential next step will be the publication of the ADHD report, which my petition called for in 2024 and which we included in our amendment. It will tell us what the level of ADHD services would be, what a commissioned service would and could look like, and what resources it could take to deliver them. We in the all-party group on ADHD and, certainly, the secretariat of ADD-NI, are desperate to read that report, to have something to aim for and to give the community hope that change is coming.”
“The real kicker for me was hearing about constituents whose GPs have decided to withdraw access to medication that they described as "life-changing" and "transformative" and to withdraw from shared care, which sets a timer for when their lives will start to go backwards. I heard that in a phone call yesterday morning with Joanne in east Belfast. She showed me the letter that she had received out of the blue from her GP, which said that the life-changing medication that she has been receiving for the past number of years would run out from 1 May. <BR /> <BR />For those reasons, I submitted a petition to the Assembly in 2024. Signed by over 4,500 people, it called for the urgent commissioning of ADHD services here.”
“That floored me, given his medical history, and I assumed that there must be some other avenue that he could explore. <BR /> <BR />I started to look into it, and the more that I did, the more that I found lengthy and inconsistent waiting lists; numbers that one GP told me are essentially a guess, as they are plucked from thin air; postcode lotteries across Northern Ireland; people self-medicating to cope with how ADHD manifests itself in their lives; higher rates of suicide; and people being forced to go private, pay significant sums of money and then pay again for monthly access to medication.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate as chair of the all-party group on ADHD, and I thank those who tabled the motion and my colleagues who helped to draft our amendment. <BR /> <BR />I cover infrastructure and policing for the Alliance Party, but I have always felt a real sense of the injustice that is taking place against the ADHD community here. I have mentioned it before in the Chamber, but it all started for me when a young man presented himself at my constituency office, looking to talk to me about something that I thought was completely unconnected to ADHD. He told me that he had tried to take his life 17 times. He had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety — those are common misdiagnoses — but he had been told that he would have to wait eight to 10 years for an ADHD diagnosis.”
“Minister, a regular complaint that I receive in my constituency office is about quality of repair. Will you tell us how your Department ensures good quality of repairs in the first instance, rather than calling out to go back, to call out to go back?”
“Minister, will you advise whether the new syllabus will provide guidance to ensure that, when schools bring third parties in to deliver religious education and collective worship, they do so in a way that is objective, critical and pluralistic?”
“The fellowship empowers thoughtful leadership that listens and seeks to understand, unafraid to imagine boldly, collaborate bravely and act with integrity, helping to meet the challenges of today and shaping a better future for everyone in the place that we all call "home". I wish everyone involved with the Centre for Democracy and Peace fellowship programme well for the 5th anniversary celebrations this week and wish them many more years of success to come.”
“Together, they help shape a learning experience grounded in real-world challenges, empowering participants with the adaptive thinking and systems leadership needed to drive cooperation and innovation. The focus on entrepreneurial leadership aligns closely with the key Programme for Government priorities and offers unique value to Northern Ireland by supporting the development of collaborative, forward-thinking leaders. My taking part in the fellowship programme was a transformative experience, enhancing my collaboration across sectors and strengthening my ability to serve and lead with purpose. <BR /> <BR />The Centre for Democracy and Peace fellowship programme is not just an investment in leaders; it is an investment in the future success of Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Guided by an advisory board of senior business leaders from across Northern Ireland who bring strategic insight, operational expertise and a deep understanding of leadership in complex environments, the fellowship embodies their commitment to investing in sustainable peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.”
“I take the opportunity to recognise the contribution of the Centre for Democracy and Peace fellowship programme to peace and prosperity, as it celebrates five years of building political, business and civic leadership in Northern Ireland. Supported by leading businesses, the fellowship programme gives leaders from politics, business and civic society a unique opportunity to develop the skills needed to address the social, economic and political challenges of today. In its fifth year and with over 120 alumni, including more than 10 MLAs, the fellowship programme equips fellows with decision-making, design thinking, collaboration skills and the opportunity to gain experience in global best practice.”
“Thankfully, I have not seen one of those in years, and the Glider is now simply part of the furniture, bridging east and west Belfast, with passenger journeys up, and active travel projects such as the Connswater community greenway now established and thriving just down the road from my constituency office. <BR /> <BR />Active travel brings so much to each community where we can implement it. However, strategic planning and execution by the Department must be timely and cost-effective. I encourage the Minister to ensure that every penny spent on active travel is proven to be a conduit for progress rather than a guessing game for success. I look forward to her feedback today.”
“Unfortunately, my difficulty in the justification of such a major scheme creating such significant disruption is that, to my knowledge, no cycling or pedestrian count surveys were undertaken, so little is known about the potential uptake of a route that is causing much grievance for residents. That only adds to the dissatisfaction when the works are complete and the benefits are not immediately visible. As Ms Hunter said, that is why the Department must communicate transparently with locals to ensure appropriate traffic management so that the impact is limited. We saw something similar in my East Belfast constituency during the introduction of the Glider. Significant disruption was caused, leading to posters with slightly colourful language appearing in some shops.”
“From the outset of major projects, what we need from the Department are clear information and timelines to ensure that obstruction is kept to a minimum. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Infrastructure has made herself available for the debate. <BR /> <BR />As chair of the all-party group on active travel and road safety, I am in full support of the implementation of active travel routes. However, I do question the prioritisation of routes. That is why I have worked closely with the active travel community to ensure that propensity to cycle is incorporated in rolling out routes for maximum benefit and uptake. The best way to encourage active travel is, first, to ensure safety in places where we know that the routes are more likely to be used.”
“As a member of the Infrastructure Committee, I welcome the opportunity to acknowledge the road infrastructure issues at Ballykelly and Kilrea. I thank the constituency MLAs for their contributions and insight into the Adjournment debate. I am an East Belfast MLA, so I have taken instruction from colleagues and elected reps from the area. <BR /> <BR />The Infrastructure Committee continues to hear about repeated delays in road infrastructure works, which cause significant frustration to road users whilst affecting road safety and journeys for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Yesterday, it was reported that there has already been an overspend on this project, whilst creating an extended impact on businesses and locals trying to go about their day, as mentioned by my Infrastructure Committee colleague Mr Stewart.”
“In the past five years, tragically, nine pedestrians and two cyclists have been killed in collisions with HGVs. How will today's measures reduce deaths on our roads and protect the most vulnerable road users?”
“I urge him to do the right thing and take that important first step by publishing that report to get change and justice for children, young people and adults alike across Northern Ireland. For too long, people who live with the condition have struggled and lived in silence. The ADHD community is positive, driven and proactive. We will not stop fighting for the justice that it deserves in the face of the removal of shared care arrangements, lengthy waiting lists for diagnosis and the impact of the lack of support on stress levels, which can include self-medication, substance abuse and mental health issues.”
“We were then told that it would be finished by the start of the summer, which then became the end of the summer and then Christmas. Now, we are told that it is finished and with Health officials, but it still has not been published for anyone other than the Department to review. I am chair of the all-party group on ADHD. We are being held back from doing all that we can in the Northern Ireland Assembly to support the ADHD community. The report is already 20 years too late, and we cannot meet to discuss its findings because we still have not even seen them. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased that the Health Minister is sitting in front of me as I make this statement.”
“In April 2024, I presented a petition to you, Mr Speaker, which had been signed by 4,500 people and called for the commissioning of ADHD services in Northern Ireland. I pleaded with the then Health Minister to meet ADD-NI to discuss the need for those services in Northern Ireland and the impact that they would have. Since then, I have also pleaded with the current Health Minister to meet us, and I am pleased to say that we got that meeting with the Health Department. At that meeting, we made clear the urgent need for departmental intervention for those who are living with the condition, and, crucially, those who are potentially living with it, in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />A report was commissioned, and we were told that it would be finished by the end of the 2024-25 financial year.”
“Thank you, Minister. Do you agree that working to achieve national park status would improve health and well-being for everyone across the city of Belfast?”
“I thank the Minister for that response. Minister, how will participants share in the benefits from the social farming capital grant scheme?”
“Most recently, Renee Good, who had links to Northern Ireland, was murdered in cold blood just days ago by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The US president represents the hatred that he has emboldened, and the vice president has suggested that ICE go door to door to check residency papers. History is now repeating itself. <BR /> <BR />We are a small country, but we continually punch above our weight. We in the Assembly have a year and a half to make a difference to the lives of everyone here in Northern Ireland, including newborns such as Ethan. Let us do just that by embracing positive politics, showing leadership and not wasting the time that we have left.”
“Men such as Andrew Tate, Tommy Robinson and HSTikkyTokky provide a platform for toxic masculinity for the next generation to consume, and their views are seen as normal and commonplace. My wife and I want to raise Ethan in a way that is loving, empathetic, forward-looking and compassionate in order for him to always help others, be the best that he can be and, ultimately, respect women while doing so. That is so important in this day and age, given the Wild West that is social media, where, in the name of so-called free speech, anything goes but respect. <BR /> <BR />We see disturbing scenes coming out of America every day, as men, women and children are rounded up and removed from society.”
“Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence for a few moments to acknowledge the birth of my recently born son, Ethan McReynolds. Ethan was born just a few short weeks ago and has completely changed my and my wife's life and thinking. On behalf of us both, I take this opportunity to put on record my thanks to all the consultants, midwives, nurses and staff at the Ulster Hospital and the Holywood Arches medical centre in east Belfast for their input and expertise over the past year and during my wife's pregnancy. I also thank my party leadership and colleagues, who have greatly helped us over the past while with the changes that have come before us as a family. <BR /> <BR />Friends told me recently when they first met Ethan that 2025-26 is a pretty scary time to welcome a child into the world, and they were right. The manosphere is a thing.”
“Minister, you spoke of a challenging funding envelope on 'Sunday Politics' yesterday. The draft Budget has earmarked just over £1 billion for the A5 project, which is currently under appeal and has barely seen a road safety measure since the upgrade was first proposed. In asking colleagues for creative solutions, will you confirm whether you have discussed with the Infrastructure Minister ways and means of improving road safety along that 53-mile stretch of road that do not require just over a quarter of the total capital budget for DFI?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your response. What is your assessment of the impact that a proposed capital multi-year Budget would have on the progress of infrastructure projects here?”
“Having active travel in a place the size of Northern Ireland should be a no-brainer, but we instead see a failure to get the basics right early on. We are cobbling together things that we know work later and at expense. <BR /> <BR />I call on the Infrastructure Minister to read to the Audit Office report and to work with the all-party group on active travel, the lobby and the Infrastructure Committee to deliver the necessary changes that will make getting around easier, safer and cleaner through active travel.”
“by 2025, but, unfortunately, the figure is presently only 1%. <BR /> <BR />COVID represented an opportunity for us to reimagine how we get around, given that there were fewer cars and other vehicles on the roads. In Paris, where I used to live, the mayor ordered immediate changes, and it is now completely unrecognisable from what I used to know. In Belfast, we got some cones on Hill Street, which were driven over, and pedestrianisation is only now, five years later, being presented as an experimental scheme. <BR /> <BR />I commend the active travel and cycling lobby, which is calling for strategic investment and collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure the success of active travel, but to do that will also take the will of the Assembly and of departmental officials.”
“<BR /> <BR />Active travel has the ability to make a positive impact on how we move around our towns and cities. It has benefits for health, the environment and our economy, but those benefits are going unrealised as they are repeatedly forgotten and ignored. Underinvestment and lack of targeted investment make it obvious why targets are not being met. Although £50 million has been put towards active travel, what has it actually achieved? The 2015 bicycle strategy aspired to:”
“As chair of the all-party group on active travel, I will respond to today's Northern Ireland Audit Office report on active travel in Northern Ireland. Sadly, the findings were precisely what we expected. Under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, the Department for Infrastructure is required to spend 10% of the transport budget on active travel. If that had been done, £85 million would have been spent annually, but it has spent a total of only £50 million to date. Moreover, we see that the Department is taking a creative approach, with street lighting repair and footpath repair considered to be appropriate spend from the active travel budget. I see what the Department is doing with that approach, but, unfortunately, that will not increase the number of people walking, cycling or wheeling to get around.”
“Increased air use and the positives that come with it cannot be brought about to the detriment of our environment. Those goals can be realised in conjunction, as evidenced recently by the Belfast City Airport master plan, which I encourage all Members to engage with during its consultation period. <BR /> <BR />I welcome today's motion and the positives that could flow from it for Northern Ireland. However, I remind Members that it is not just about aviation but about creating greater connection, increasing opportunity for business and supporting our world-class tourism offering.”
“There is a real opportunity to acknowledge the positive impact on and benefits for our public transport system. Through an aviation strategy, we could see increased footfall on bus or potential rail connections, which would increase the necessity for more public transport routes across Northern Ireland and our ability to ditch private vehicles and access airports via rail or bus. The knock-on effect would be extra funds from fares, which could be used to improve the standard of our public transport, and we could then deliver things such as late-night buses much faster and more easily than we have seen in recent months and years. <BR /> <BR />Last, but by no means least, we need to ensure that our net zero targets are not forgotten, and, to achieve those goals, we must use greener technologies and take environmental responsibility.”
“Linking in with markets that we have yet to reach and increasing connectivity through additional services will allow more businesses to choose Northern Ireland first when deciding where to take their business. The York Aviation report notably referred to key European markets such as France and Germany and even to potential for connectivity with North America, which no airport in Northern Ireland yet provides. Along with dual market access, that would provide a massive opportunity for US businesses to choose Northern Ireland as one of the first English-speaking countries that investors meet when they cross the Atlantic Ocean to access European and British markets. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Mr Honeyford covered the economic benefits of an aviation strategy; as an infrastructure spokesperson, I will turn to the infrastructure perspective.”
“That draws businesses to the area, creates more jobs and boosts the economy. In that context, we in Northern Ireland are missing out.”
“<BR /> <BR />Each airport here creates and sustains an important part of our economy and tourism, playing a critical role in allowing us to connect to the rest of the UK and Europe, whether that be for business or recreation. Through the introduction of an aviation strategy and by working with our airports, we could see more connections to more European hubs and an increased regularity of services, with businesses choosing to be based near our airports, thereby increasing jobs in the area. If we look to Cork as an example, we see that it has flights connecting two major European business hubs, and businesses choose to have their offices close by, allowing for fast access to the global market.”
“I support the motion, thank its proposers and look forward to the Minister's response. <BR /> <BR />As my party colleague outlined, we in Alliance believe that an aviation strategy could play a vital role in creating jobs, promoting tourism and enhancing our public transport investment. At the outset, I feel that I should, like Mr Aiken, declare an interest given that I have Belfast City Airport in my constituency of East Belfast. The airport supports more than 6,500 jobs in that area and more than 12,000 across Northern Ireland. It has generated hundreds of millions of pounds for our economy while, through its community fund, donating almost £1 million to support community groups and charitable causes across East Belfast and North Down.”
“I am just concluding. Sorry. <BR /> <BR />The families deserve more than finger-pointing and the blame game. They deserve real solutions as we work towards a safer A5 and the positives that can come from that.”
“Indeed, Judge McAlinden made clear in his judgement that the Climate Change Act does not prevent large infrastructure projects but requires evidence of their planning and coordination to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Act. The way forward is not to go back on climate change law but to hold to account those who have not done their due diligence and ask why potential issues were not addressed in the first place.”
“We regularly meet Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, who consistently highlights the fact that no road is a safe road, but that does not mean that there is nothing that we can do to make the A5 safer. Speed cameras, speed limits and road signage can make road users more aware of their driving, with the goal being to reduce injuries and fatalities overall. Those things may not fix every issue or prevent every tragedy, but they can contribute to reducing their numbers. We need to address the dangers of the A5 now, not wait another decade for it to be completed. <BR /> <BR />Such a sensitive topic should not be used to unpick climate change legislation, given that, on two previous occasions, the A5 upgrade's being paused by a court ruling was not down to the Climate Change Act.”
“All the while, the question that colleagues and I have kept asking ourselves is this: since the announcement of the scheme 20-odd years ago, what major road safety improvements have there actually been along that stretch of road? To this day, sadly, we have lost over 50 lives, and I am not aware of any significant, tangible interim solutions having been introduced. Perhaps the Minister can speak to that point in her remarks later. Instead, we have waited on an upgrade that, 20 years later, has not happened. Just last week, during Question Time, I asked the Infrastructure about steps that her Department can take to improve road safety in general, but specific measures can also be taken along that particular road. <BR /> <BR />As the chair of the all-party group on road safety, I am acutely aware of the dangers of the road.”
“I speak today as an Alliance Party spokesperson on infrastructure, as chair of the all-party group on road safety and as someone with family members who use the A5 daily. Since becoming an MLA in 2022, I have met a number of families who have, sadly, lost loved ones on our roads. Each family still carries the pain of that loss. <BR /> <BR />It is obvious that there were major failings in the Department's evidence to the High Court. That surprised me at the time, to be honest, given the delays that I was seeing across other DFI areas because, I was advised, all resources were being thrown at the A5 case to ensure a positive result.”
“I support today's motion and its call for bonfire regulations to be introduced to ensure safe celebrations for all.”