Diane Forsythe
South Down · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“The Schomberg Society and the staff and pupils of Kilkeel Primary School worked hard alongside the team from Blue Eagle Productions, especially director Rosie McClelland, to deliver a fantastic performance. We saw Northern Ireland's history, heritage and the pupils' great talent shining through.”
“<BR /> <BR />The production was an excellent way to mark that important historic event and for those P7 pupils to bring their time in primary school to a close. It was bittersweet for the year group, as one of their dear classmates was notably missing.”
“As we come to the end of another school term, I pay tribute to some excellent work at Kilkeel Primary School in my constituency, especially by the P7s. I declare an interest, as my son is one of them.”
“Mrs McCabe, the school principal, shared with the children the words of Proverbs chapter 17, verse 17 on how true friends love at all times — through the good times and the hardships of life. I thank Mrs McCabe for her leadership.”
“The Minister will not be surprised by my question on the delay of the accounts certification on SEUPB, as we are in June 2026, 18 months after the end of financial year 2024. Those accounts have still not been certified in both jurisdictions, and a full further financial year has since passed.”
“Minister, you say that you want to avoid unintended consequences for businesses and property owners, but those measures do nothing for existing long-term businesses that are struggling on, already occupy premises and cannot afford to invest in their properties, and there will be consequences for them.”
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“It suggested that that would support the viability of businesses; improve the rate of employment; have a positive impact on Treasury revenue; support regional growth; improve international competitiveness; and ease cost-of-living pressures. It is therefore not a question of whether we should act but how we should act to support this vital industry. <BR /> <BR />We do not believe that the necessary capacity exists to devolve those additional fiscal powers. Our view is based on a number of pragmatic considerations, and we question whether devolving those powers would bring timely benefits to affected firms. There are other actions that Ministers can collectively take to ease pressures and promote a more resilient and competitive landscape for our hotels, restaurants, pubs, breweries and others with a keen stake in the sector.”
“Department of Finance data in the Irish Republic, published last year, stated that cutting the VAT rate to 9% for the entire hospitality sector would cost €764 million annually. That would fall to €545 million if it were applied only to food and catering services. The corresponding figure in Northern Ireland would also be deeply significant. Whilst we recognise the spirit of and support the UUP's call for interim support, there needs to be a recognition of the practicality that such a proposal would cost the Executive, at a minimum, tens of millions of pounds. <BR /> <BR />Prior to the rate of VAT returning to 20% after March 2022, the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on hospitality and tourism endorsed calls for a lower rate of VAT that would be applicable across the United Kingdom.”
“<BR /> <BR />As a party, we are committed to ensuring that businesses and employers have the tools and the right support in place to grow and thrive in what are challenging economic times. In particular, we believe that cutting tourism and hospitality VAT is crucial. We have said consistently that the difference in hospitality VAT rates between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic in particular is an impediment to creating a more competitive environment locally and to building on the sector's standing as an engine for growth and job creation. Local businesses in Northern Ireland face a comparative disadvantage as a result of the reduced rate in the Irish Republic.”
“I thank the Members who tabled the motion for giving us the opportunity to discuss what is a really important issue. Representing South Down, a border constituency, I encounter it week in and week out, with a number of businesses coming to me to say that they are seeing the very real effect of customers voting with their feet, especially when booking larger corporate events and weddings. The DUP recognises the importance of our hospitality sector and the significant challenges that it faces, as my colleague Phillip Brett outlined, with the pressure of increased employers' National Insurance, the failure of the sector to receive an equitable reduction in rates and the disparity in VAT rates.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and his ongoing engagement with the voluntary and community sector, particularly for coming to the all-party group meeting recently to hear the sector's voice directly. Is the Department providing any additional support to the sector, given the challenging environment?”
“The families of those men will never forget them, nor will our community, and neither should anyone.”
“Harry Edgar, aged 27, was the son of Robert and Thelma and a loving brother to Phyllis. A devoted family man, quiet and unassuming, he loved horses and football, which he enjoyed playing at Ballyardle. The funerals of those three Kilkeel men took place on 11 February, when the entire population of Kilkeel lined the streets. <BR /> <BR />The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) has worked with the families of those innocent victims of that terrorist atrocity to dedicate a memorial stone and represent them in a tapestry. Most importantly, it works with the families to provide support and to continue to tell the story of truth from that terrible day: five innocent men, going about their day's work, were brutally and cruelly murdered by the evil actions of the Provisional IRA.”
“Three of the men killed were from a Kilkeel-based firm in my constituency of South Down, and the families firmly uphold their memory in our community today. George Beck, aged 43, was a devoted husband to Isobel and a loving father to Nigel and Gillian. He was a member of Derryogue flute band and of the Orange and the Black. He was an active member of Mourne Presbyterian Church and a singer in the church and male voice choir. John Eakins, aged 52, was husband to Lottie and father of seven children: Billy, Tom, Alex, Jennifer, Linda, Lesley and Rodney. At the time of his death, he had several grandchildren. He was a family man and a hard worker. He was a keen churchgoer and was sexton of Carginagh Church and a member of Derryogue Orange lodge and the local Royal Black Preceptory 208.”
“Yesterday, we paused to remember the date, 9 February, when, in 1971, five men travelled to Brougher Mountain in rural County Tyrone to repair buildings at a transmitter compound. On the track to the compound, their Land Rover activated a large explosive device and they were blown up by a Provisional IRA bomb. All five innocent men, going to do their day's work, were instantly killed by that IRA bomb in what can only be described as an evil and harrowing attack. Those in positions of leadership who fail to condemn the murders of innocent people and say that there was no alternative to that violence are disgraceful. History can never be rewritten. <BR /> <BR />Today, I remember those five men. The two BBC engineers from Great Britain were Malcolm David Henson, aged just 23, the youngest victim that day, and William Alan Thomas, aged 35.”
“We will not sit idly by and watch as our constituents are failed. However, there is a long, hard fight for everything that we do. Anyone who has watched me work hard for my constituents can see that, but we will continue to do it. We are in the minority, but we are proud to always punch above our weight and represent our constituents.”
“He has been as absent on the ground as he has been from his seat at Westminster. Where were the two Sinn Féin MLAs? What about our councillors? I heard no support on the matter from our Sinn Féin-run Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, which pushed through a rates increase last night despite an absolute and ongoing failure to deliver things that are as basic as emptying the bins in the area every week. <BR /> <BR />In South Down, we have been very much left behind and failed time and time again. I stand alone as the only unionist MLA for South Down. Our DUP team of councillors is hugely in the minority, with only five out of 41 councillors, but we will always stand up and fight for our constituents. The DUP councillors on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were the only ones to vote against the rates increase last night.”
“If such short minor works were required, why did it take over 15 months to do them? Why were the people of South Down left behind and forgotten for so long? What did it cost the Department for Infrastructure to run temporary traffic management on the road for the past 15 months? I have asked that question before and been told that the information was commercially sensitive, but I ask it again, because my constituents deserve to know how much it cost to restrict them to one lane of traffic on that main road for over a year. It caused huge delays and inconvenience and hindered business transportation through the area. <BR /> <BR />I have an evidenced record of consistently fighting on the issue, but I have felt alone. Our local people were failed by our Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister on it. Where was the South Down MP?”
“On Sunday 2 February 2025, the Shore Road at Rostrevor in my constituency of South Down was finally reopened to two lanes of traffic, having had one lane blocked and temporary traffic measures in place for the past 15 months and a couple of days since the storm in October/November 2023. Some in the Chamber may be sick of hearing me talk about it, but I have been relentless in tabling questions for oral and written answer and securing an Adjournment debate on the roads in South Down before Christmas. Thank goodness the road is now open. <BR /> <BR />Many questions, however, are now pouring in, as the work to move the blocks placed in the middle of the road to block one lane for over a year to the edge of the road at the bottom of the cliff took just one and a half days this weekend.”
“— targeted cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.”
“As I said at the start, the DUP supports practical, sensible and —”
“<BR /> <BR />Does the leader of the Opposition also accept that, for unionist Ministers in the Executive, their ambition with respect to North/South cooperation will naturally be tempered by a desire to promote and strengthen links with their counterparts in Great Britain? Surely that goes without saying for unionist Ministers in the Executive and all unionists in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />There are synergies in the two documents as we look at them. For example, the all-island rail review is listed as a priority in the Programmes for Government in Dublin and Stormont. We welcome that. The DUP believes that there is no contradiction between its pro-Union stance and support for growth-orientated and mutually beneficial expansion of transport links between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is unsurprising that the motion from the leader of the Opposition criticises the Executive's lack of ambition when it comes to cross-border cooperation, but he needs to accept that the political and economic conditions in this place are far removed from current events in Dublin. Mr O'Toole suggests that the Executive ought to replicate the additional €1 billion being invested in Shared Island initiatives by the new Irish Cabinet. Where does he propose we draw that funding from? What public services, which specific schools, hospitals and roads, does he suggest that that money be taken from? As Chair of the Finance Committee, he is acutely aware of our financial situation.”
“<BR /> <BR />I represent the border constituency of South Down and see at first hand the benefits of assets such as the Carlingford ferry enhancing the economy on both sides of the border. However, the arrangements underpinning cross-border cooperation must have due regard for and respect the constitutional place and position of Northern Ireland. Crucially, they should also be accountable to the Executive and the Assembly. We make no apologies for the fact that the North/South Ministerial Council has not lived up to its potential, as the SDLP sees it. Prior to St Andrews and the safeguards that we secured at that time, there was scope for an expansive approach that undermined Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom and was corrosive to local community relations.”
“I congratulate the Minister on his new role as Finance Minister. <BR /> <BR />The DUP supports practical, sensible and targeted cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. People on both sides of the border share close economic and social ties, and we are pleased that those ties have improved significantly over the past 25 years. We do not feel that our British and unionist identity is under any threat from the many positive examples of beneficial and life-saving cross-border health projects, including the all-island congenital heart disease network and the North West Cancer Centre. Indeed, the DUP wants that vital work to continue.”
“I congratulate the Minister on her new appointment. As Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee, I thank her for her work as Finance Minister over the past year. <BR /> <BR />Throughout the storm response, there were regular updates from NIE and Ministers on how many properties were without power. We could see the scale of the problem and its steady reduction. Does the Minister know how many properties, including homes and businesses, are currently without broadband?”
“Today marks a year since the institutions were restored. It was excellent to see that, at the outset, ending violence against women and girls was recognised as a key priority. Will the deputy First Minister outline what work has been undertaken in the past year to end violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and especially for putting victims at the centre of his decision. It is a powerful day for victims, whose voices have been heard. The announcement and the move to help them to escape violence will certainly save lives. <BR /> <BR />Minister, concern about intimidation points has been an issue for many years. Why has it taken so long to resolve?”
“I thank the Executive for their response over the weekend, during this terrible time. In my constituency, it has been good to see steady progress on the restoration of power to homes. However, many of the rural pockets across Mourne, Killowen, Scarva, Loughbrickland and particularly Katesbridge, the coldest point in Northern Ireland, are entering their fourth day without power and heat. Will the deputy First Minister provide some assurance as to the Executive's commitment not to leave rural communities behind?”
“The DUP has delivered for working families on childcare and continues to be committed to doing more. It is time for the Economy Minister to deliver for the childcare sector, unlock the funding for this year and make sure that there continues to be a sector to deliver childcare. We need to secure the childcare infrastructure in Northern Ireland. There is no point in fighting to expand schemes if we do not have childcare settings and the workforce to deliver them.”
“The Education Minister will bring forward a comprehensive and ambitious early learning and childcare strategy for Executive consideration and public consultation by autumn 2025, but today let us focus on delivery. <BR /> <BR />We in the DUP made a commitment to deliver on childcare in our 2022 election manifesto. The DUP Education Minister took that on and has delivered with the limited budget that he was allocated. He has delivered a childcare subsidy scheme that has put £4·2 million back in the pockets of working families in Northern Ireland; 2,503 additional full-time preschool places from September 2025, which is 300 over the target; and £7·6 million to secure existing early years programmes, such as Sure Start, Pathway and the Department of Health's Fair Play small grant scheme.”
“Whilst I am disappointed that the Opposition have not focused on the allocated funding, which has not been distributed to providers, and on holding the Economy Minister to account, I agree with the principle of aiming to do more on childcare as a whole. The Education Minister would do more if he could and if he had the budget allocated. We welcome the £50 million that has been earmarked for early learning and childcare in the draft Budget for 2025-26. A priority in the interim will be to continue and expand the measures put in place for this year. Over the coming weeks, the Minister will consider what else he can afford to do with the £50 million of funding that has been allocated for next year and will bring forward a plan in due course.”
“Every business has needed to increase its costs, unfortunately, and childcare businesses should not be vilified for doing so. However, that hurts parents, because those costs are passed on to them through increased fees. We need to seek solutions to that.”
“Childcare settings are businesses that, like many others, have faced significant increases in running costs — electricity, heat, food for the children, insurance — and they will take a huge hit from the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions from April.”
“There is nothing more precious to parents than their children. Being able to hand over their child into the care of someone whom they trust is worth so much. I know that the childcare staff in Toddlers Cove and Little Treasures and a home-based childminder, Nicola, were worth their weight in gold to me. We need to see efforts made to keep those staff in the childcare sector. <BR /> <BR />It is disappointing to see the narrative presented by some that childcare businesses have done something wrong by increasing their fees, as though they have done so to neutralise the 15% discount given by the Education Minister. That narrative is unfair.”
“I ask the Minister for an update on the audit. A significant barrier to accessing childcare courses in further education in order to train in the field is the need for GP sign-off to enable a student to be accepted on to a childcare course. A combination of challenges, such as access to GP appointments and the reluctance of some GPs to sign off, has prevented and discouraged many from studying such a course, reducing the potential workforce. In September 2024, 30 students were unable to take up places on childcare courses at the Northern Regional College (NRC). That means that potentially 30 new childcare workers every year are blocked from taking up their place. <BR /> <BR />We need to recognise the value of our childcare workers as early years practitioners and take steps to ensure that they are paid what they are worth.”
“He responded that he had asked officials to carry out an audit of what the Department must offer in that area and that the audit would:”
“Alongside calling for him to unlock the funding allocated in the package for 2024-25, I ask him please to take urgent action to review, support and save the sector. There is little point in Members fighting to expand childcare schemes if there are no childcare provider settings or staff to deliver them. Having effective childcare in place is critical infrastructure for the Northern Ireland economy, and we need businesses to remain in place and be better supported. <BR /> <BR />Staffing in the childcare sector is a huge pressure. In February 2024, I asked the Minister for the Economy in a question for written answer whether he had plans to invest in staff training and qualifications for the childcare sector.”
“I ask the Minister for the Economy to explain the cause of the delay and to work alongside his Executive colleagues to expedite the delivery of that financial support to providers in financial difficulty in order to give them some hope, as well as to put some effort into delivering for those areas where the demand for childcare exceeds supply, which are in pockets across Northern Ireland, as soon as possible in advance of the end of the financial year so that the funding earmarked for childcare providers for 2024-25 can be unlocked. <BR /> <BR />The childcare sector is a full section of our economy in itself. If there were a crisis in any other industry in Northern Ireland, the Economy Minister would have intervened long ago.”
“It is therefore incredibly disappointing that the Minister did not expedite the scoping exercise that was necessary to inform the design of the scheme. That comes at a time when many childcare providers are already facing recruitment and retention challenges, including grappling with the National Insurance cost rises that face them in April.”
“<BR /> <BR />The £2 million, however, that was allocated to the Department for the Economy to carry out an in-depth assessment of the sustainability challenges faced by many childcare providers in order to determine the support that they need and how government should respond to provide targeted business support has not been delivered. The motion calls on the Minister for the Economy to take action to unlock that funding for childcare providers in Northern Ireland. The sector needs support. <BR /> <BR />When the announcement was made last May, providers looked forward to seeing something, whether a scheme like that which was rolled out during COVID, temporary rate relief or something else, and welcomed the recognition that their industry was under pressure.”
“He has initiated a major expansion of preschool education, so we will see an additional 2,503 children get a full-time place in preschool in September 2025, with more to follow in successive years. Furthermore, he has commissioned the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) to undertake a major household survey of parents' childcare requirements. That and the administrative data collected from the Northern Ireland childcare subsidy scheme will inform the next steps. On all measures set out in the plans for the £25 million within his control, the Minister of Education has delivered.”
“The Education Minister has already implemented the Northern Ireland childcare subsidy scheme, with the parents of over 14,000 children receiving a 15% reduction on their childcare bills. That was up and running in under four months, putting money back into the pockets of working families. To date, the subsidy scheme has provided over £4 million in savings for working families. When combined with savings from the tax-free childcare scheme, it is estimated that those parents will have benefited from a share of nearly £9 million to date. <BR /> <BR />The Education Minister has already invested an additional £7·6 million in existing early years programmes such as Sure Start and the pathway fund and some that are administered by other Departments, such as the Department of Health's Fair Play grant scheme.”
“That included £7 million on measures to expand and stabilise existing early years provision and childcare; £5 million to begin the transition of all funded preschool education places to 22·5 hours; £9 million for the Northern Ireland childcare subsidy scheme; £2·5 million for the data collection exercise to evaluate measures and inform the early learning and childcare strategy; and, finally, £2 million that was earmarked for a targeted business support scheme for childcare providers to assist those in need of financial support. As detailed in the Minister's statement in May 2024, the Department for Economy and Invest NI would assist with the design of the scheme. <BR /> <BR />In January 2025, eight months on, where are we with that?”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Childcare and early years education are key priorities for the Assembly and Executive. Every child deserves the best start in life. Access to quality, affordable childcare for working families is essential to our local economy. Childcare is such a priority that, in the face of extreme budgetary pressures, the Executive agreed to ring-fence some £25 million to progress it in 2024-25, the most significant enhancement of early years investment in Northern Ireland in decades. On 23 May 2024, Education Minister, Paul Givan, set out a package of measures for early learning and childcare that the Executive agreed would be implemented in the 2024-25 year. It included a portfolio approach, as so many of the objectives that were included were interconnecting.”
“I encourage you all to learn a bit more about Robert Burns and enjoy his poetry, and I wish everyone a happy and enjoyable Burns Night, wherever they are celebrating.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mr Speaker, thank you for hosting a celebration of Robert Burns and Ulster Scots in the Great Hall today. It is most welcome, and I will be there, proudly donning my Hanna family tartan, which was beautifully crafted by the Harris Kilt Company in your constituency of South Belfast. <BR /> <BR />I will share a wee extract from a favourite Robert Burns poem of mine, 'The Rights of Woman':”
“<BR /> <BR />Burns Night, sometimes called "Burns Supper", is traditionally celebrated with a dinner consisting of haggis, neeps and tatties — more commonly known as turnips and potatoes — along with food, poetry, music and dance. This weekend, we will see people gathering to celebrate Burns Night all over the world. It is fantastic to see the best of our Scots and Ulster-Scots history and culture being celebrated across the globe. With the new American vice president, JD Vance, having strong Ulster-Scots links, we look forward to sharing our culture with the White House in the future. In my constituency of South Down, Burns Night will be well celebrated, with really big events in Kilkeel, involving the Schomberg Society, and Lisnamulligan and with many other events where people will join each other to celebrate.”
“Get your haggis, bagpipes and tartan ready: it is time to celebrate Burns Night. For more than 200 years, Burns Night has been celebrated every year on 25 January in honour of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, who is known all over the world. The story of Robert Burns and Ulster is one of an auld acquaintance that should never be forgotten. It is just one of our many historical connections with Scotland and expresses our shared heritage of the Scots language and literature. The Ayrshire poet and lyricist died in 1796, but he is still regarded as the most prominent poet to have written in the Scots dialect. His best-known poems include 'To a Mouse', 'Address to a Haggis', 'Tam o'Shanter', 'A Red, Red Rose', and 'The Selkirk Grace'.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. In September 2024, the Northern Ireland Audit Office published the report, 'Developing the skills for Northern Ireland's future', which highlighted the significant undersupply of skills in STEM subjects, particularly engineering and technology, in Northern Ireland. Has the Minister taken any proactive steps since that report was published to increase the uptake of courses in those areas and reduce it where there is potential oversupply in Northern Ireland?”
“Therefore, while my party understands the motion's sentiment, it is crucial that any reforms are evidence-based and command widespread support from politicians, Ministers and civil servants. A whole-of-government approach is essential. The co-design and co-development of a gender equality strategy for the Executive will be the best vehicle to take forward those proposals. DUP Ministers are committed to continuing that work in this mandate. Our amendment seeks to secure support across the Executive to bring that forward. I commend the amendment to the House.”
“It underlined a range of challenges to implementing gender budgeting that are relevant to the situation here in Northern Ireland, not least the need for significant investment, upskilling, additional staff headcount, potentially, and tensions between some Departments in the way in which they tackle cross-cutting gender goals. Therefore, it is important that Northern Ireland takes stock of experiences elsewhere in order to ensure that any changes that are brought forward provide tangible improvements in promoting gender equality in our society. <BR /> <BR />The proposer mentioned the OECD. In 2023, it reported that 32% of countries that currently operate gender budgeting rarely use the evidence that is collected in policy and decision-making. We should not seek to replicate that precedent.”
“Ultimately, if the Executive are to go down the route of gender budgeting pilots or practice, that will require a joined-up approach from senior civil servants with policy and finance responsibilities. <BR /> <BR />We need to look at others and learn from their experiences. Worryingly, in 2021, the gender equality strategy expert advisory panel that was commissioned by the Department for Communities indicated that the Civil Service locally lacked the competence and capacity to deliver on the aims through the existing section 75 process. That illustrates the challenges ahead. It would be wrong, therefore, to rush or set artificial deadlines for scoping that out. The Scottish gender budgeting pilot was evaluated by the OECD, which reported formally in July 2024.”
“<BR /> <BR />As a member of the Finance Committee, I know, as do many others in the Chamber, that the Northern Ireland Budget process has much room for improvement, with inconsistencies in reporting and the lack of completion of key procedural documents from Departments. My party is concerned about the motion's introduction of further procedural requirements to the 2025-26 process at this time. Departments should be encouraged to bring forward information that examines the gender impact of their budget proposals to support fairer, better-informed and more impactful budget decisions. That must not, however, be to the detriment of existing equality assessment and screening that is carried out in the context of the section 75 processes.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our Budget process is one way in which we can enable better-informed decision-making with respect to the impact of policy and spending on gender inequalities in the workplace, at home or in society more generally. My party does not see a need for there to be separate budgets for men and women in order to make that happen. However, there is clear merit in seeking to improve the evidence base that is available to Ministers and the Executive as a whole when agreeing allocations. That can, of course, extend to examining whether previous decisions have had positive or negative gender impacts. Our amendment seeks to introduce that improvement.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to recognise the importance of addressing systemic inequalities in our society, including in respect of gender. I thank the Opposition for tabling the motion. DUP Ministers have recognised those inequalities and taken actions to date. The Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, has paved the way for gender pay reporting to be operationalised as part of the employment Bill that is coming from the Department for the Economy. In Education, Paul Givan's childcare subsidy scheme is benefiting many female parents who would otherwise struggle to return to or stay in the labour market, which was mentioned by the leader of the Opposition.”