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 8 of 9.
“It simply does not make sense for us to close a campus that is playing a crucial role in shaping and creating the new tech minds of Northern Ireland. For example, the 10X strategy provides a clear strategic focus on good jobs, regional balance, productivity and decarbonisation. In addition, we now have increased clarity, post-Brexit. The previous Minister said to me in the Chamber that it:”
“Today's Adjournment debate — I thank Ms Bunting for securing it — is welcome and can play a key part in communicating the importance of the college and the key role that it can play in the local economy if it is supported and looked at differently by the Economy Department and the new Economy Minister. <BR /> <BR />We all know that Northern Ireland is one of the world's leading countries for cybersecurity, with the Castlereagh campus having two dedicated, specialist cybersecurity labs. It is a leader in its field here. Moreover, I know, from speaking with data scientists, that Northern Ireland could be in a unique position, using our unique status, to house data from the USA, UK and EU. That is the crux of my argument.”
“As well as that, my constituency colleague Naomi and I submitted our response to the consultation, calling for the college to be retained and alternative options explored.”
“I welcome today's debate on the impact that the recently consulted-on closure of Belfast Metropolitan College's Castlereagh campus would have on the immediate area of East Belfast, as well as the surrounding areas of Belfast and the local economy. I do so as an East Belfast MLA and a former employee of Belfast Metropolitan College. <BR /> <BR />I was surprised when I first received an email from the college in October of last year. Since then, I have met senior management on two occasions; attended the public consultations; spoken on the issue in the Chamber through a Member's statement; twice questioned Minister Murphy while he was in post; and written to Minister Murphy inviting him to engage with the college.”
“— 13 years later to meet the programme's original aims, and from where does he hope to obtain that potential extra funding?”
“— across Northern Ireland, not least Glentoran Football Club in my constituency. Will the Minister confirm how much money is now needed —”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. He will be aware that £36·2 million was committed in 2011 to improve Irish League football grounds. A consultation on football stadia funding was launched in 2015, and four Ministers have been responsible for that fund since then — two from Sinn Féin and two from the DUP. It will be crucial for clubs —”
“I thank the Minister for her statement, and I wish her well in her role. Can she elaborate on the discussions that took place regarding climate change and biodiversity loss?”
“Is he aware of the impact that it has on the ability and performance of those who need it in schools and universities and of the anxiety that many are living with as they slowly run out of a product that allows them to function in their daily lives? <BR /> <BR />ADHD is a serious condition, but interventions can be relatively quick and easy. It does not require more money to be thrown at it. All that is required is the will and motivation to do what is right. I urge the Health Minister to do all that he can to address it, before September, alongside urgently commissioning adult ADHD services. People living with the condition are becoming desperate and feel forgotten about. The ripple effect that the lack of support has on people with ADHD is colossal.”
“However, here in Northern Ireland, we are more acutely affected because patients face significant difficulties in obtaining access to specialists to speak to about their ADHD. Over the past week, I have received messages from concerned and stressed adults and parents who feel that they are on a countdown until they run out. Telling people to "seek advice from the specialist teams" is nothing short of laughable, with the majority of individuals unaware of what that means. <BR /> <BR />I am aware that the Health Minister is confident that the issue will be resolved by September, at the very latest, but that is four months away. That is not good enough. What happens if it is not resolved by then? What do people do until then? Is the Health Minister aware of the impact that having to withdraw from the medication will have?”
“Almost one month ago, I was grateful to have the opportunity to present a petition to the Speaker in the Chamber on behalf of more than 3,500 people calling for the urgent commissioning of adult ADHD services in Northern Ireland. That is an essential first step to give hope and support to the, potentially, thousands of adults here who are living with ADHD and who have masked their symptoms all their lives while the science and evidence highlighting the condition has improved. <BR /> <BR />Today, I speak on behalf of those who have received that crucial and life-changing diagnosis but are now unsure of their continued access to medication, due to shortages. It is well known that that shortage is due to a global shortage of medication and the rise in those being diagnosed.”
“Will the Minister detail the practical benefits of the soil nutrient health scheme?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Will she outline how the Probation Board for Northern Ireland cooperates and shares with the Irish Probation Service?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Will she raise junior doctors' pay in her discussions with Treasury? Does she believe that multi-year budgeting is an important tool in stabilising industrial relations?”
“Those reasonable and fair questions deserved reasonable and fair answers, but he did not get them. That is the situation for all residents across Northern Ireland, and the Alliance Party is today calling for it to be addressed. <BR /> <BR />Flags, banners and emblems on public property are not really for me, although I respect that they are for other people. That does not mean, however, that we should throw out the rules or leave many constituents confused at actions that are taking place in their area. The motion and the code of practice outlined in the report are fair and reasonable, and I look forward to working on the matter over the course of the mandate to increase understanding across all parts of our society and bring communities together in the spirit of respect at key times of the year.”
“All through the meeting, I was thinking in the back of my head about how ridiculous a position that was to put to residents who were proactively engaging on something as important as road safety in their area when, at other times, we simply ignore the issues for months on end. <BR /> <BR />Transparency forms a key part of the possible code of practice. I have another anecdote. I was phoned a number of years ago, before I was elected, by an army veteran. He told me that he had woken up that morning, opened his curtains and seen that a Union flag had been erected outside his house in the middle of the night. He rang me and said that he respected the flag but wanted it down because he did not know who had put it up, why it had been put up, how quickly it would be coming down or whether DFI and the PSNI even knew about it.”
“Currently, we have a system that flies in the face of residents and communities. I speak from the experience of having people say to me, "Now, Peter, this isn't a threat, but, if we don't put the flags up, someone else will". That scenario is even more ridiculous, given that, a few weeks ago, I met residents of a nearby area who, due to the high number of children who play in that area, wanted to erect road safety signs on a street that holds an annual street party for local children. They were told by the DFI official who was there that day that anything that was not contained in the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 would have to be removed promptly and that such signs would lead to liability issues due to their obstruction of sight lines.”
“I remind the Member that we are not in Belfast City Council. Currently —”
“Absolutely. Consultation is essential when it comes to such things, rather than just assuming that we know what the public want. Surely no one could disagree with that.”
“On the contrary, we seek a way to enable and encourage celebration and commemoration. What we want to stop is the abuse of symbols for undetermined periods and for the purposes of intimidation and antagonism.”
“The code of conduct that is detailed in paragraph 11.48 is a reasonable approach that provides lawful authority for the display of flags and emblems in public spaces. That is important, because what we currently have is a confused and disrespected public and public bodies that are concerned for the safety of their staff. In that vacuum, individuals and groups are able to take advantage of the lack of clarity, appearing in the early evening and erecting unwanted flags in areas that many of them do not even not live in. Where is the fairness in that? Where is the respect for the views of residents who have made that area their home and who invest in their local community and economy? <BR /> <BR />No one is saying that events and celebrations and flags flying on lamp posts have to stop.”
“I welcome the motion. I thank Ms Bradshaw for her work on the issue to date. I welcome it as a member of the Infrastructure Committee — the Infrastructure Department is the one that has the most crossover with the motion — as an East Belfast MLA and as a former east Belfast councillor, so I know a thing or two about the display of flags, emblems and banners on public property. I have dealt with the messages, notifications and phone calls over the past 10 years in politics, and I have the bags to show that. <BR /> <BR />The motion is a reasonable request of our First Minister and deputy First Minister. Last night, I reacquainted myself with chapter 11 of the FICT report. It has some good ideas regarding the perceptions of the public and the hurdles to be overcome.”
“I thank the Minister for his response, but I remind him that the NSPCC, the Human Rights Commission and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People have all called for an end to the physical punishment of children, as did the previous Minister of Education. Will the Minister today commit to urgently act on the guidance of organisations and previous Ministers who focused their attention on the rightful protection of children and their rights?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. He has advised that the issuing of temporary exemption certificates will be a short-term measure. Can he give any indication of how short-term a measure it will be? Has issuing reminder letters sooner been explored, given the large number of missed appointments that are contributing to the backlog?”
“<BR /> <BR />On behalf of the staff, current students and potential new students of Belfast Metropolitan College's Castlereagh campus, I call on the Economy Minister to urgently accept our request to meet staff and see the potential that the Castlereagh campus has for supporting the next generation of minds in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Moreover, we need to remember that this place sat silent for five out of seven years, while Departments cried out for support and ministerial direction, and groups and organisations cried out for support but were allowed to go to rack and ruin. I am firmly of the view that everyday issues such as potholes, street lights, struggling businesses and proposed campus closures can be linked back to the lack of a consistently functioning Government. That is why a functioning Assembly is so important to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Now that Ministers are in post and Departments have some energy behind them again, it is crucial that Ministers hear about problems and potential solutions and that they see the opportunities that lie in front of them, with government support in place.”
“<BR /> <BR />The consultation recently closed, and the Minister has consistently told me that it would not be appropriate for him to meet with management of the Castlereagh campus until the significant number of public consultation responses have been reviewed by the college. However, it is precisely because of the large number of responses that it is essential that the Minister engages with the college, although not specifically on the proposed closure. The campus is such an important part of the community in east Belfast and the surrounding local economy. We cannot sleepwalk into closure and not know what could have been.”
“I rise to speak on the importance of Belfast Metropolitan College's Castlereagh campus in my East Belfast constituency. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware of the sudden announcement of the proposed closure of the campus last year and of engagement on redundancies within the wider Belfast Metropolitan College estate. Since becoming an MLA, I am proud to have worked with parents and staff on that matter and have attended consultation evenings; consistently engaged with management; put forward our concerns on how the process is being handled; and raised what is happening with the Economy Minister in the Chamber and in writing.”
“I take the opportunity to thank Sarah Salters and Keith Anderson from ADD-NI, a charity that has been operating for the past 27 years that has been of massive help and support to me and the adults who have contacted me about their experiences. I also thank Claire and Stephen Loftus for highlighting this injustice through their own experiences and the long list of people who have communicated with me through social media and my office. <BR /> <BR />While I do not expect the petition to lead immediately to the introduction of services here, I see it as an important first step towards their introduction. Anyone watching today can rest assured that I will not stop raising the issue until people living with ADHD receive the support and dignity that they deserve.”
“We call for an adult ADHD service to be commissioned in Northern Ireland and for the Health Minister and his officials to get an urgent grip on the issue rather than take the organic approach that has been allowed to happen, which is simply not enough. People have been suffering for too long. They are told that it is unlikely that they will be seen by someone in the health service for three to six years. The private sector has all but shut its doors owing to demand. People are receiving bills of hundreds of pounds for medication that one person described to me as being transformative to their life. In 2024, that is a disgrace. <BR /> <BR />I thank you, Mr Speaker, and your officials for arranging to accept the petition so quickly.”
“<BR /> <BR />My interest in the area was piqued when I asked a question for written answer of the current Health Minister about how many adults were on the waiting list for an ADHD diagnosis in Northern Ireland. I was stunned when I received the reply that, because there are no commissioned services for adults here, there is no need to keep such a list. Since then, I have received hundreds of emails, messages and phone calls from people telling me about their daily lived experience, about how the lack of commissioned services impacts on them, about the spiralling costs that some inflict on themselves each month and about the sheer postcode lottery across our trusts. <BR /> <BR />The petition that I present today has received 3,586 signatures in the three short weeks since I launched it.”
“I rise to speak on behalf of thousands of adults who are living with or potentially living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across Northern Ireland. All MLAs in the Chamber will be aware of the fight that parents face annually to attain access to statements or support for children in an education setting. It is rightly argued by some, however, that we have already missed two generations of children, now adults, who have had to mask their symptoms or suffer internally with the overwhelming nature of everyday life. One doctor whom I met recently explained to me that we are all walking on a treadmill in life but those with ADHD do so on a level 6 incline, meaning that they can complete their walk but it will be more fatiguing and easily lead to burnout.”
“The meeting will be at 2.00 pm on that date. MLAs from all parties are more than welcome to join me there. I look forward to seeing Members at what promises to be a positive discussion to tackle a major issue.”
“I was reminded recently that 2012 had the highest spend on road safety advertisements and that we did not have one death on our roads in that year. I was astonished to learn that, in recent years, those advertisements have been cut owing to financial pressures. <BR /> <BR />I am aware that the Minister has published the 'Draft Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2030', but we can all do so much more. I recently met the charity Road Safe NI and others on the matter, and I have arranged a meeting in the Assembly on 1 May to facilitate a round-table discussion for MLAs to hear from Road Safe NI about its expertise on road safety — the causes of accidents, the challenges and the solutions — and about how we can help effect real change, given that road safety touches every constituency in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Evidence shows that more than 95% of road deaths are due to human error, careless or inattentive driving or inappropriate speed for the road or conditions, with drink- and drug-driving accounting for the majority of deaths and serious incidents. Since becoming an MLA, I have attended remembrance events at the Assembly, and vigils as well, most recently on the steps of Stormont with MLAs and campaigners calling for vital improvements to the A1. <BR /> <BR />As one of the many new MLAs who experienced the lull in this place from May 2022, it has been so motivating and inspiring to feel the energy in Stormont since its restoration in February. Stormont is key to addressing road safety issues in Northern Ireland.”
“I rise as an East Belfast MLA and a member of the Infrastructure Committee to highlight the issue of road safety in Northern Ireland. Members will be fully aware of the issue in the North and South of the island, given the historical data on collisions, casualties and fatalities. In 2023, 71 people lost their life on Northern Ireland's roads, compared with 55 deaths in 2022 and 50 in 2021. We are now in April, and there have already been close to 20 deaths. Behind each death is a family and a community in mourning. Over the weekend, we had a fatal crash in Ballycastle, and the PSNI had to issue a statement after two separate road traffic collisions involving R drivers.”
“We are always happy to look at expert-led options and make evidence-based decisions. However, that must always have at its core political consistency and stability, the protection of our environment and, fundamentally, a rejection of privatisation and of placing increased financial burdens on the public. From here, our ability to build much-needed homes, our economy and, ultimately, Northern Ireland will benefit.”
“That is why it is so important that we start treating our water and infrastructure sectors with the respect and attention that they deserve. <BR /> <BR />Lastly and against that backdrop, I encourage the Minister to explore the potential of nature-based solutions to reduce cost pressures by improving water quality at source and mitigating flood risk. For example, extensive research has demonstrated the ability of trees to protect water bodies when they are planted close to pollution sources. Whilst I appreciate that Northern Ireland Water is working to install natural solutions where possible, it is vital that we work with the environment on a larger scale, and I would appreciate the Minister's commitment on that point. <BR /> <BR />We support today's motion and amendment.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important to highlight climate change and the fundamental role that our environment plays in addressing water quality. In 2023, we had our warmest year on record and our wettest since 2002. Alongside that, the degradation of our water treatment system is having an impact on our environment, with our combined sewer overflows directly linked to pollution incidents. In a climate emergency, that must change as we adapt to having to manage more water. As we heard, England is seeing similar and worse on a regular basis. <BR /> <BR />I am proud to be in a party that has vocally ruled out going down the privatisation route for delivering and managing water. That has proven time and time again to be a disaster on a global basis. Water must be recognised as a right to life, rather than being seen solely through a economic lens.”
“However, I caution the Chamber that there is no single swift answer for remedying the various issues that face Northern Ireland Water; instead, like infrastructure and construction, it will require consistent, stable and functioning institutions supporting the organisation year in, year out, not a frequently collapsed Executive or a Department without a Minister. <BR /> <BR />We were meant to have multi-annual Budgets, but we have missed out on those. Multi-annual Budgets would have better served the long-term assets needed to deliver and manage water and would have given confidence to the construction, civil engineering, housing and business sectors, as they would see certainty in the future, rather than the unfortunate dysfunction of recent years and the year-by-year funding fluctuations.”
“We are talking about a Victorian sewerage network in desperate need of upgrade, significant funding pressures due to a historically fragmented and underfunded approach to water infrastructure and how the inconsistent political stability of these institutions exacerbates those problems. <BR /> <BR />As we have heard, at the Infrastructure Committee we were fortunate enough to have the chief executive of Northern Ireland Water, Sara Venning, at our first meeting, which shows the importance that we place on the prioritisation of Northern Ireland Water during the mandate. She painted a bleak picture of the pressures facing the organisation. I welcome this motion on the current funding and governance models, which need to be reviewed, as my colleague Mr Brown detailed.”
“It is essential that we achieve that in a manner that is safe and accessible and does not discriminate against the most vulnerable in our society. <BR /> <BR />I am personally passionate about the issue, having studied the human right to water during my human rights law master's degree. It was then that I had my first visit to this place to meet multiple MLAs and hear a wide range of views on how they wanted to finance and work with Northern Ireland Water. I was reflecting on that over the weekend, and the conversations that I had over a decade ago are the same conversations that we are having today.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to today's motion. I thank the proposer of the motion for stepping in at short notice to move it, and I thank the proposer of the amendment for bringing it forward for debate. <BR /> <BR />Since the restoration of the Assembly and the Executive, I have been fortunate to speak in multiple infrastructure debates, all of which noted the requirement for long-term, strategic and significant investment to deliver in a variety of ways for the population who live here. Today's debate is no different in that it is about facilitating clean and safe drinking water and sewerage for the 1·9 million people who live here and over 700,000 households and businesses. Those are fundamental human rights, but they also require significant financial cost and political will to deliver them.”
“Given the barriers that many children face in obtaining an ADHD diagnosis or statement, will the Minister's Department consider investigating the introduction of ADHD awareness training for teachers and support staff?”
“I thank the Member for their response. Will the Assembly Commission update the minimum standard of security to be expected at constituency offices?”
“Will the Minister confirm if he will commit to working closely with the Department for Business and Trade on the matter?”
“I welcome the motion and the amendment. I look forward to working on the matter in the Infrastructure Committee and to the Minister's response.”
“A key part of the debate and discussion should always be addressing our reliance and dependency on private cars and ensuring that the public have access to good multimodal transport that enables them to move around, not least in the face of a climate emergency.”
“There are some good points in that document. Moving towards a consultation and potentially even a pilot would be a welcome and reasonable approach to explore, as it is clear that there are many adaptions that could be made to the current system to improve things. <BR /> <BR />As we have heard, there are various reasons for the current lengthy waiting times, from cracks in lifts to people driving older cars and more people driving than ever before. It would be remiss of me not to speak to that last point, given our reliance and dependence on private vehicles in Northern Ireland. I hope to always be a voice in the Chamber for public transport and active travel.”
“Moreover, I would be keen to know whether temporary exemption certificates could again play a role in reducing waiting times if used in specific and limited circumstances. I would be grateful if the Minister could respond to that point when closing the debate. <BR /> <BR />As someone who is new to the Assembly and the Infrastructure Committee, I have spent my time over the past few weeks reading up on the issues facing the Department and the Minister, meeting officials and groups and looking back over the work of the previous Committee, which did great work on providing suggestions about how to improve the MOT testing system. I was pleased to see, as we heard from Mr Durkan, that the previous Minister, Nichola Mallon, conducted a call for evidence on the introduction of biennial testing, which is the subject of today's amendment.”