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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“The stalling of the projects will have a direct impact on the residents of East Belfast, whose homes have been flooded in the past. As I said, human excrement has been documented on the roads, and that same faeces has been documented in Belfast lough, where the water quality is reducing. How much longer can we go on without action to address the fundamental problem that our current arrangements with Northern Ireland Water are not working? Not only is it blocking and restricting development and economic growth, it is putting public health at risk. That is unacceptable, and something has to change. <BR /> <BR />It is evident that our current funding model cannot address the major complexities that we now see in delivering water and waste water infrastructure.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have a new Infrastructure Minister in post. I hope that with that change will come new ideas, new passion and a new approach. I am optimistic that the debate will highlight to the new Minister the importance of her role in that she has the responsibility to effect change on an issue of such magnitude. The Infrastructure role is not just about potholes and street lights; it is about human life, development and progress, and, as I said, it correlates directly with many of the aims and objectives in the draft Programme for Government. <BR /> <BR />It is a cliché, but repeating the same approach over and over again and expecting different results is folly. That is exactly how the waste water issue has been treated historically, and, all the while, the problems have got worse.”
“At this stage and in that context, I am keen to hear the new Minister's thoughts on whether her Department is supporting Northern Ireland Water to deliver on the aims of the draft Programme for Government (PFG), given its clear connection with housing and the economy. <BR /> <BR />I have regularly highlighted in the Chamber and in the media the fact that neither the Infrastructure Department nor the Infrastructure Committee get the time or respect that they deserve, given their links with everything around us. Planning, water treatment, social homes to address homelessness, environmental protection, economic growth and life itself: the decisions that are made in this area are fundamental to the delivery of them all. When they are not done right, we physically see and feel the impact.”
“<BR /> <BR />Water treatment and management are not easy or cheap. They are resource-heavy and require consistent planning and investment. Because we have not seen sustained investment in drainage and waste water over the past 20-plus years, the scale of and backlog in the living with water in Belfast programme have increased significantly due to the complexity and number of major projects that are now required. Contractors are being stood down; future projects, such as the one that we are debating, are being reprioritised; and the issues in Sydenham, Whitehouse and Belfast lough are getting worse.”
“Sticking plasters have been applied; fanciful solutions, such as developer contributions, have been proposed, although no one can tell us what projected impact they might have; and criticisms in the media and in the Chamber that the current model is not fit for purpose have been rejected. Secondly, we can start turning off certain waste water stations to prioritise the functioning of others, but that is unconscionable and should never be on the table in a modern society. Alternatively, we can take a new approach to water management. What we have in place is not working. Northern Ireland Water has acknowledged that it is being held hostage by being funded annually, with limited capital investment restricting it to investing only in smaller drainage and waste water treatment projects.”
“Matted wet wipes, sanitary pads, condoms and underwear were some of the most commonly found items. The fake beach, only metres away from a public towpath, is physical, tangible evidence of the historical and chronic underfunding of Northern Ireland Water and is directly connected to waste water management. <BR /> <BR />What do we do? We have three undeniable options. First, we can take the previous Infrastructure Minister's approach by doing and changing nothing, acknowledging that a problem exists but hoping that it goes away by itself with no departmental interventions.”
“The same pipe, along with Sydenham, was in a key piece of footage in a recent 'Spotlight' programme that revealed that the pipe was leaking large quantities of toilet water and human faeces, which was shown lying on a busy Shore Road with cars driving through it. The programme revealed that Northern Ireland Water had recently removed over 100 tons of sewage-related debris from a beach next to Whitehouse waste water treatment works and had had to stop when the removal began to physically change the landscape. So much biodegradable waste was accumulating that it was becoming a structural part of the beach. Another key piece of footage that I ask the Minister and Members to watch is by local film-maker Stephen Reid, whose video showing exactly what types of items created that artificial beach has had almost half a million views.”
“I have visited a Northern Ireland waste water and sewage treatment works to see for myself the scale of the operation that Northern Ireland Water undertakes every day to treat water, and I have spoken to residents affected by flooding in East Belfast. <BR /> <BR />We have all known for over a decade that, in many of the key facilities around Belfast lough and contained in the plans that have slowed from lack of investment, our waste water services simply do not have adequate capacity. In 2021, we had a costed, detailed plan to increase sewerage capacity, but, in 2025, despite positive preliminary work, all projects have been paused. Some of the risks have been realised, as my parents experienced with a burst storm overflow pipe in Newtownabbey, north Belfast, roughly 200 metres from their home.”
“Sydenham waste water pumping station is the largest and one of the oldest in Northern Ireland, serving 6% of the population. It is also the largest unsatisfactory storm overflow in Northern Ireland, discharging virtually every time it rains. It is a fair assessment that, if we MLAs were to flush our toilets up here while it was raining, many of the contents would not reach Sydenham waste water pumping station but would go straight into Belfast lough. <BR /> <BR />As I have said before in the Chamber, I have always been interested in water policy and how we manage, treat and provide water in Northern Ireland. I studied it as part of my human rights law master's in 2012.”
“In essence, Northern Ireland Water has been forced to shelve those essential works in Sydenham, much like it had to do for waste water pumping stations at Kinnegar and Whitehouse and across the wider Belfast lough catchment area. <BR /> <BR />At this stage, I ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether she recognises the concern that that decision has caused my constituents, many of whom are being denied home insurance to this day or receiving outrageously high quotes, which will remain the case until the pumping station is delivered.”
“The works also aim to decrease the unsatisfactory discharges of storm overflows, to improve water quality and to reduce odours in the Connswater, Knock and Loop rivers, as well as in Belfast lough, thus enabling economic development by unlocking capacity for waste water connections in the area and stimulating job creation. <BR /> <BR />Late last year, however, the Department wrote to Northern Ireland Water to advise that a review had been carried out that concluded that, although the living with water in Belfast plan continued to be needed, its delivery within the original 12-year timescale was no longer achievable. Instead, it should be delivered as normal, and at a scale and pace that is achievable within available budgets.”
“<BR /> <BR />The call for this Adjournment debate was sparked by correspondence sent to residents in inner East Belfast and elsewhere about the upgrading of Sydenham waste water pumping station under the living with water in Belfast plan that the Department for Infrastructure launched in 2021. The works have been deemed essential to reducing the risk of catastrophic failures of pumping stations and internal property flooding, something that, sadly, my constituents in the Sydenham area of East Belfast have experienced on more than one occasion.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am delighted to have secured today's debate on an issue that affects my constituents in East Belfast specifically but that also affects residents across Belfast and, indeed, Northern Ireland as a whole. As I look around the Chamber, I welcome the attendance of East Belfast and other Belfast MLAs, Committee for Infrastructure colleagues — our Chair is here — and the new Minister for Infrastructure. I take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to the Minister on her new role and thank her for attending the Chamber to give her first remarks on the issue of waste water, and, indeed, on Northern Ireland Water (NIW), a body in which her Department plays a fundamental role through providing annual funding.”
“The Department reported £6·3 million in overpaid benefits via fraud investigations, but official errors in universal credit alone amounted to £8·47 million. Minister, what actions are you taking to identify weaknesses in the system to reduce those error rates and protect public money?”
“On that basis, Minister, have you encouraged the Department for Infrastructure to update Northern Ireland Water's priorities to include housebuilding in order to meet the needs of the growing number of people living in homelessness across Northern Ireland?”
“Where a tenant engages in threatening, violent or abusive behaviour towards another household, what will you do to ensure that it is that tenant rather than the tenant from the other household who loses their tenancy?”
“Minister, your Department was the lead for Fresh Start work stream two:”
“I have already spoken today about the bullying of a 23-year-old adult last weekend in Belfast, but that is a fairly standard parental complaint that I hear regularly as an MLA, and it will not go away unless we give autistic people the respect that they deserve across society, support them if they need it and give them their place in our society. <BR /> <BR />I hope that we hear a positive response from the Minister. I thank Kerry and Arlene from Autism NI for their support to make today happen and for their ongoing support for the autism community in Northern Ireland. I also thank Members for taking part in the debate, but I remind them that today will not be the end of the fight for improved autism services here. As Mr Durkan said, it is another reminder of the importance of the Assembly and the Executive operating all year round.”
“That reminds me of a recent meeting that I had in my constituency of East Belfast with the mother of a man now in his 30s who lives with significant autism. During the conversation, she broke down in tears, because, given the lack of services for her son, she was concerned for his safety and hers in the event that he is unable to obtain the support that he needs to control his autism and how it affects him without interventions. <BR /> <BR />There are wider societal impacts of not supporting those who live with autism and their families, friends and carers.”
“That should be reason enough for the Health Minister to urgently bring forward plans to develop specialist autism mental health services to meet the needs of those with autism, and I look forward to his response to the debate. <BR /> <BR />Minister, your input is so important, because the science and understanding of autism have improved significantly over the years, but we need to remember that people with autism did not just appear one day. They have not just popped up; they have always been there. In much the same way as, I believe, we have missed two generations of young people with ADHD, who have had to struggle alone since childhood, we have missed many people who live with autism, leaving them to cope alone and mask their condition in order to get by.”
“I welcome the opportunity to respond to today's motion as a sitting member of the all-party group on autism. Since being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2022, I have sought to make sure that neurodivergence is better reflected here through my involvement in that all-party group and the all-party group on ADHD. In both, I have found that, for too long, politicians have brushed neurodivergence under the carpet, and people have been left to struggle without support. As we have heard many times today and as all of us who are taking part in the debate know, autistic people have higher levels of poor mental health, with increased likelihood of self-harm and death by suicide, and waiting times for assessment and interventions are lengthy.”
“I fear, however, that what we saw last week is what happens when we up here, including Ministers, do not act or intervene. That can lead to some thinking that it is OK to bully someone with autism and to brazenly record doing so. <BR /> <BR />It is timely that we will debate today the lack of specialist autism mental health services in Northern Ireland. I encourage all Members to look into the footage from last weekend, and let it be a warning to us all what a lack of input from us in the Assembly can mean for those living with autism.”
“<BR /> <BR />Last weekend, when Josh came to Belfast, thousands of others on the platform and I saw large groups of young people following him around Belfast city centre and recording interactions with him on their phones. It involved him being jeered at, shouted at, cajoled, ridiculed, goaded and deliberately provoked by young people who should have known better. I get that he is somewhat of a public figure who puts himself out there, but that does not mean that standards have to drop as low as the behaviour of some last weekend in Belfast. <BR /> <BR />Respect for and understanding of neurodivergence have been hard fought for over the years by groups across Northern Ireland and now rightly receives the continuous attention that it deserves.”
“I rise to highlight concerning video and bullying behaviour that I saw on social media last weekend against a young man with autism in Belfast and what it should say to all of us as politicians. <BR /> <BR />A while ago, I saw that New Yorker Joshua Block, otherwise known as "World of T-Shirts", was planning a trip to Dublin and would possibly come to Belfast. I noticed immediately a tone in those who responded with delight at the news. Mr Speaker, I am not sure whether you dabble in the world of TikTok, but Josh is a 23-year-old living with autism and a vulnerable adult struggling with alcohol issues. His videos are primarily of him consuming alcohol and behaving erratically. People send him money for that and, in turn, sustain his lifestyle and fuel his alcoholism.”
“I thank the Minister for his response and for saying that he will come back to me on that. What action is he taking to ensure that the 100,000 homes outlined in the housing supply strategy include a planning requirement for them to be connected to town and city centres by public transport, which will reduce reliance on private vehicles?”
“Minister, I am sure that you have seen the devastating destruction caused by the wildfires in LA over the past week. Against that context, what is your response to the news that 2024 was the first year to pass the 1·5°C global warming limit?”
“Minister, an important part of placemaking, for connectivity purposes, is our roads. Was tackling congestion discussed during the meeting, and what best practice did you hear about?”
“Minister, the congestion that we saw on Sunday was on a day when the bus lanes were open. What consideration was given to whether having all works and closures at the same time was a viable proposition, and can you advise what others were proposed?”
“I thank the Minister for that update. In the absence of a commissioned service, what is your assessment of the situation where those with a private diagnosis of ADHD have their shared care arrangement reviewed, are given a deadline of 180 days before access to their life-changing medication is withdrawn and are then redirected back to their private provider without access to treatment in the meantime?”
“I thank the First Minister for her response. First Minister, Northern Ireland Water is facing monumental challenges, a question for urgent oral answer has been submitted today on congestion pressures in Belfast city centre, DFI officials were fielding questions on 'The Nolan Show' this morning and the York Street interchange remains in limbo. Will we see an options paper tabled for a decision by the Executive in January, or even in the first half of next year?”
“<BR /> <BR />I will make a further point about the need for collaboration between Departments and a collective will to address financial imbalances and improve our connectivity while reducing congestion, because let us face it: the public are at the heart of this debate, and they deserve fairness on cross-border lines. I understand the frustration, which we have heard about today, of people who regularly avail themselves of cross-border rail services and feel especially short-changed when the price depends on what side of the border they purchase their ticket. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to the Infrastructure Minister's response and to hearing what steps he will take forward with his Executive colleagues to deliver on the aims of the motion and the amendment.”
“That is why we support not only input from the Fiscal Council on those matters but the creation of an independent, expert-led infrastructure commission to guide us on matters such as those and to inform us of the solutions that are out there and the options that are realistically open to us. We also require multi-annual budgets to support Translink in a way that is comparable to the way in which its counterparts in the South are supported. Time and time again, we see major Departments in Northern Ireland being drip-fed money annually or via monitoring rounds. That is unsustainable for infrastructure projects specifically. I look forward to, hopefully, the return of such budgets to be able to deliver on the aims of both options.”
“One point that was brought up as a topic of conversation was that better access to public transport, specifically rail, can play a key role in reducing fatalities on our roads. <BR /> <BR />As I read the motion and the amendment at the weekend, I could not help but be reminded of a comment that the Infrastructure Minister made during the all-island rail review debate a number of months ago. He said that, in the course of that debate, Members had "spent a few billion pounds". So many of the debates that we have on infrastructure matters show that they require significant capital investment and strategic planning.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is so important that we get public transport right, and it is disheartening that rail fares on cross-border services are significantly more expensive in Northern Ireland than in the South. We are fortunate that the new Grand Central station is open in Belfast. That should be welcomed, but the cost of fares is the significant factor in whether someone uses public transport or resorts to a private vehicle. We are still in a cost-of-living crisis. People will not make greener choices if that means digging deeper into their pockets. Greener choices have to be cheaper and supported choices if we are to have any hope of stimulating the modal shift that we need to see. <BR /> <BR />I just chaired a meeting of the all-party group on road safety, as the proposer of the amendment knows.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate, which, I think it is fair to say, is on two separate topics. On the one hand, the SDLP motion is about the fare imbalances between the North and South of Ireland, and, on the other hand, the broader DUP amendment is about the electrification of the network, the opening of key lines and the need to address connectivity imbalances. We support all those things in principle. I spoke in the Chamber before, shortly after the restoration of the Assembly and Executive earlier in the year, about the merits of investing in our rail network to realise benefits for our climate, economy and connectivity.”
“Minister, what actions have you taken to use financial transactions capital to support the expansion of green energy?”
“I encourage all MLAs to take part in a sponsored sleep-out for an unforgettable learning experience and to better understand what it is that we are working to eliminate.”
“<BR /> <BR />Having gone through the MACS sleep-out, I felt it necessary to speak with the organisers and volunteers at the recent Simon Community sleep-out in Stormont estate and to hear their stories and experiences. They told me a statistic that makes absolute sense on the basis of my experience with MACS: 70% of those experiencing homelessness have an underlying mental health condition. They are not people who have made poor decisions; they are people who need early intervention, support and to be heard. <BR /> <BR />I commend today's motion and what it tries to achieve. I thank all those on the ground who are working to help those experiencing homelessness in all of its forms, and I thank MACS Supporting Children and Young People for an invaluable experience last year.”
“I say "slept", but I did not sleep at all that night because it was so cold — maybe an hour or two of light and broken sleep. The next morning, still looking homeless but now visibly exhausted, I went to get a coffee and again experienced the surprised, lingering looks and whispers. I felt unwelcome and as though I was a troublemaker. I went to my constituency office, as normal, for a day's work, but I could not focus; I barely got through the day. It took me two full days to feel like myself again. Imagine if that was your idea of normal: running on empty every day; being seen as an inconvenience; feeling like an inconvenience for existing; and exhausted just by doing simple, daily tasks.”
“I packed up my sleeping bag, put on a few extra layers and wore a hat to keep me warm. I was feeling pretty confident and looking forward to heading to Banana Block on the Newtownards Road, where it was taking place, so much so that I went into a local pub beforehand. That is where my learning about homelessness began. I had not thought about the fact that I looked visibly homeless, with my sleeping bag under my arm and my clothes and hat. I was met with stares and people moving away from me — my first experience of the judgement that comes with homelessness. <BR /> <BR />In Banana Block we were, thankfully, sheltered from the rain, but it is famously difficult to heat, so we effectively slept outside and on a cold, hard floor.”
“I support the motion and thank those who tabled it. I have spoken in support of similar motions in debates over the years, as a councillor in Belfast City Council and now as an MLA, and I find that, at times, they can become a bit academic. We must remember that these are people, families and friends facing the uncertainty, fear and stress of homelessness. That is why I was keen to take part in a sponsored sleep-out in east Belfast last year to get some insight into how it feels to be homeless while raising money for MACS Supporting Children and Young People, a charity that does so much for homeless young people in east Belfast. Just recently, its staff were in my office on the Newtownards Road, helping a young person who was at risk of exploitation by paramilitaries. <BR /> <BR />The night before the sleep-out, I psyched myself up.”
“I am doing that because we have listed building status for important and prominent buildings, but we have no such protections for trees. Trees are irreplaceable and, once they are gone, they are, sadly, gone forever. The proposals on which I am consulting will help protect trees in the short term and long after I am gone. I look forward to reading the public's responses to the consultation, and I encourage everyone to respond to it. Hopefully, I will be able to take forward my ambitious, reasonable and clear proposals through the Assembly and, alongside colleagues, play my part in improving Northern Ireland's environment and biodiversity.”
“<BR /> <BR />My proposals seek to strengthen the current legal protections for single trees, groups of trees and ancient and long-established woodland to protect them against the unnecessary loss of mature trees and woodlands in Northern Ireland. That is essential because the most important tree to plant today is the one that we planted yesterday, recognising the fact that not all trees are equal and established trees do so much more for our environment. I propose three enhancements: a strengthening of existing protections through the enhancement of tree preservation orders; the creation of a new "heritage tree" designation, acknowledging that trees are not just nice to look at but play a key role in society; and the safeguarding of ancient and long-established woodland and trees, with legal protection from permitted development.”
“National Tree Week is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the essential role that trees play in fighting climate change, preserving wildlife and biodiversity and improving our physical and mental health. <BR /> <BR />Sadly, Northern Ireland is in a pretty poor state, with the worst woodland cover in the UK and Ireland and the lowest urban tree cover in the UK. We were also ranked twelfth worst for biodiversity loss out of 240 countries around the world in 2020. That is why I have been working with key stakeholders and partners on how to address those major issues since I was elected to the Assembly in May 2022. I am pleased to announce that there will be a public consultation on a Member's Bill to improve protections for trees across Northern Ireland.”
“Minister, if the funding allocation for policing falls short of what is required to facilitate further recruitment, what additional work will you do with the Chief Constable on the stabilisation of policing?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and his commitment to the environment. What impact will improved environmental governance have on the tackling of illegal dumping and fly-tipping?”
“I urge the Health Minister to rapidly accelerate work that he told me his officials were finalising; to intervene outside of this work, which could take many more years to bear fruit; and to intervene now to help a community that is being pushed to the brink.”
“This will create multiple inequalities, increase the backlog in mental health services and have ramifications across Departments here. Medication is the first avenue of treatment under NICE guidelines, but we now have some GPs putting people in limbo and into chaos. I get the arguments and the need for nuance and I understand the legalities, but, in my head, I rationalise it this way: people with ADHD are having their care removed and their quality of life diminished. What other condition would this happen with? Across the world, ADHD is not being recognised as a major problem, and the medication is transformative. In Northern Ireland, decisions are being made that are making people struggle. I urge GPs who are contemplating the removal of shared care arrangements to please think twice.”
“To make matters worse, we have no record of the number of people who are waiting for a diagnosis, because there is no need to keep those records. <BR /> <BR />The latest injustice is that some who have gone down the private route for a diagnosis, which is grossly oversubscribed, are being told by their GP that their shared care arrangements are coming to an end and that, if they are lucky, they will have 180 more days of medication and, after that, they will be on their own. That medication is transformative, 95% safe and improves the quality of life of those with the condition. In recent weeks, I have, sadly, received emails and phone calls from people in tears, not wanting to go back to the daily struggle of ADHD without medication. As one person put it to me:”
“I rise to speak as chair of the all-party group on ADHD and, again, on behalf of the ADHD community, which is being failed by our health system in one of the most unjust ways that I have seen for some time in my involvement in politics. Since meeting a constituent at the start of this year, who had been told that he would have to wait for eight to 10 years for an assessment for ADHD, I am now learning that that is likely to be a made-up figure, to be honest, because no one actually knows when he will receive it. I will be submitting a petition to you, Mr Speaker, on behalf of thousands across Northern Ireland who are demanding long-overdue action. I have been contacted by a huge volume of people who are shocked that we have no commissioned services here.”