Connie Egan
North Down · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“As the Minister referenced in her opening remarks, creating a legislative assumption that hate crime victims are to be treated as being eligible for assistance on the grounds of fear and distress will give them deeper assurance that they will not be put into a traumatic and distressing situation in which they are forced to engage with the…”
“Being a victim of or a witness to a crime can be one of the most traumatic and challenging periods in one's life. It is therefore vital that, when entering the justice process and throughout it, people have confidence that it will be as fair, trauma-informed and comprehensive as possible.”
“Minister Long's proactive step to create that role before the legislation was introduced served the dual purpose of giving victims and witnesses as much of a voice as possible in the here and now and testing some of the responsibilities that could end up in primary legislation.”
“When I speak to victims who have engaged with the commissioner's office and ask them about their experience, their answer is always one that is grateful in nature. They highlight the importance of having someone independent who listens to them and engages with their experience.”
“Clause 27 addresses a future legal gap caused by the implementation of direct committal, limiting the power to dismiss charges involving the death or serious physical harm of a child or vulnerable person. <BR /> <BR />Part 3 provides for the creation of regulations and orders, including the commencement of the provisions.”
“Clauses 24 and 25 add offences that involve aggravation by hostility, otherwise known as "hate crimes", to the list for which witnesses are eligible for special measures.”
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“I thank the First Minister and deputy First Minister, and I welcome the announcement; it is progress. How will they ensure that a trauma-informed approach is taken in dealing with victims and survivors of the institutions as they navigate the public inquiry and redress scheme?”
“I urge the Minister for Infrastructure to explore urgent community consultation and find a solution that works for the people of North Down.”
“It even refused to meet us, again citing that it would not be removing the fence. Whilst the ugly eyesore remains, the issue has escalated. Our planning committee has spent hours deliberating the fence, primarily to determine whether it should have been allowed to be built without planning permission. It is urging NI Water to engage with the council to find a way forward and get it removed. Again, NI Water continues to refuse to remove the fence. <BR /> <BR />Our councillors are now working on hiding that obstruction at one of our places of natural beauty. This should not be a battle that needs to be fought. The disdain shown by NI Water for the local people of North Down, and those whom they elect, has been incredibly disappointing. Our public bodies and public services are here to serve us all.”
“<BR /> <BR />In order to progress that work, I coordinated a joint letter to NI Water from all five North Down MLAs, requesting that we meet to discuss that fence on a cross-party basis.”
“Imagine my dismay, when, in 2019, NI Water erected a large, unwanted fence right on the coastal path, ruining the sight lines and beautiful views of Belfast lough from as far away as Bangor city centre and completely overshadowing an existing historic wall, a proud part of the seaside heritage in the city. <BR /> <BR />The fence is a complete eyesore and is universally opposed by elected representatives and constituents alike. NI Water cited that the reason that it erected that fence in the first place was that one councillor — one — had asked it to erect a fence around a largely hidden pumping station. The one councillor who asked for that fence to be erected has now retired. All of the area's 40 councillors, five MLAs, one MP and scores of local residents have asked for it to be removed. NI Water has refused time and time again.”
“I rise to bring to light an issue that many constituents have contacted me about. There is absolute frustration about a fence that NI Water has erected on the north Down coastal path. The coastal path is the best asset of my constituency of North Down. It runs from Bangor through Crawfordsburn and Helen's Bay beaches, past Seahill and Cultra and through to Holywood. You may be able to see my bias when I say that its natural beauty and scenery are unrivalled, with rich biodiversity interwoven into its very fabric. <BR /> <BR />We in North Down cherish our coastal path. Therefore, changes need to be made with community consultation at the heart.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Carers play an invaluable role in our communities and in our economy. Has the Minister engaged with any carers on the proposition for paid carer's leave legislation?”
“Thank you, Minister. Do you agree that, in order to better address the issue, we should have an Executive-wide audit of the cost of poverty to our public services, especially given the situation that we are in with our public finances?”
“Will the Minister elaborate on the criteria that he will use to allocate further funding?”
“What is the Minister's assessment of the impact of the work of the commissioner designate, so far?”
“While I agree wholeheartedly with what I just said, those are not my words. That statement was written for me by a 17-year-old. Charlotte from my constituency of North Down wrote that statement for me so that she could have her voice, as well as those of young people, heard in the Chamber. It is time that 16- and 17-year-olds are given the vote.”
“I concur with my North Down colleague that Castle Park Road in Bangor is an absolute mess. It is not just the depth of the potholes that your Department will not resurface but the number of them. The number of potholes is dangerous for cyclists. They are also near a school, and it is a busy road. Please, Minister, will you listen to us and resurface it?”
“The fact, however, that it is not aligned with a Programme for Government is a lost opportunity.”
“Whether it be delivering an anti-poverty strategy, reform of the Civil Service, a bill of rights or action in many other areas, we cannot let those commitments fall by the wayside. There are already commitments in place to make changes that will have a positive impact on the lives of those who live here. The lack of delivery on those promises dilutes the hope and goodwill that people have for us to get the job done, and I include in that the legislation on the table today. That is not to diminish the ambition of our legislative programme. I welcome some of its commitments, especially the public inquiry into mother-and-baby institutions. As my colleagues and I have said in the Chamber, the programme marks a positive and welcome step in this mandate for delivery for the people of Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although I welcome the efforts being made, it would be remiss of me not to recognise the context in which we have received the legislative programme. How can we impactfully assess a legislative programme without having an outcomes-based Programme for Government? How can we approve actions for change without knowing the desired outcomes? I say this sensitively: there are also many outstanding commitments on the table to ensure that we progress as a society. Positive steps and recommendations have already been agreed to in the New Decade, New Approach agreement and other agreements. Those agreements were negotiated to improve the lives of people in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />We also really welcome the Bill that will be introduced on a mother-and-baby homes, Magdalene laundries and workhouses public inquiry and financial redress scheme. As my colleague highlighted, we have heard extensive testimony from victims and survivors. That work is not just welcome but long overdue. Justice and answers must be given. We need a public inquiry and financial redress. <BR /> <BR />Taken together, the Bills will enhance the experiences of our people through different legislative avenues. I urge every Department to continue to have meaningful engagement with stakeholders and our communities on the ground to ensure that the expectations of those who live with the realities that the Bills seek to address are met.”
“<BR /> <BR />A sign language Bill is to be brought forward by the Minister for Communities. The deaf and hard-of-hearing community have been asking the House to take leadership on that for many years. I hope that the Bill will look to our building an increasingly accessible and inclusive society. <BR /> <BR />I am also glad to see the legislative plans of the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, particularly the dilapidation Bill, which aims to confer on councils further functions to tackle dilapidated buildings and sites. We see the need across Northern Ireland for such a Bill, but I am acutely aware of the need for it in my constituency of North Down.”
“<BR /> <BR />The cross-departmental picture that is presented is largely welcome. Looking to the Department of Justice, I am excited by the contribution of the Justice Minister, Naomi Long, who will not just extend the rights of children to an international standard but will retract and rewrite the archaic and out-of-date laws that do not represent modern society. <BR /> <BR />The Finance Minister's Fiscal Council Bill will establish the Fiscal Council on a permanent, statutory basis, which will create more transparency on what comes out of the public pocket and how we grow our accounts to better our public services. I welcome that, but, as my colleague Paula Bradshaw touched on, we could expand the Fiscal Council's remit to include assessment of the costs of division.”
“I will speak in favour of the motion on the legislative programme for 2024. While I may have some concerns on combined outstanding commitments, I see this as a noteworthy step forward in our politics and, in this mandate, an opportunity to further the rights and experiences of people across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />When we take a step back and read the document in the whole, it gives us some hope, not necessarily in its legislative proposals alone but in the idea of a moving, functioning Government seeking to deliver change for people in Northern Ireland. A few months ago, we did not have that. I will evaluate the legislative plan — I urge others to do the same — by how it ensures the success of our individuals and communities, adds to their lives and helps them to gain the justice that they seek.”
“Minister, do you have plans to bring abortion services in Northern Ireland into line with those in England, Scotland and Wales by fulfilling regulation 8 of the Abortion (No. 2) Regulations 2020 regarding telemedicine?”
“Thank you, Minister. There were lots of welcome commitments there. However, if you are committing to introducing the legislation during the mandate, why was it not included in the Executive's legislative programme?”
“That is a recognition that people's rights and identities are not add-ons but must be part of the investigation of a serious crime. We need effective legislation in place. <BR /> <BR />At the end of the day, we have a responsibility to victims first and foremost, and, for them to get justice, we need to take a pragmatic approach. We need intersectionality and a recognition in detailed and deliberate legislation of the connections that vulnerable communities can be exposed to. Let us commit together, across the Chamber, to doing what is truly important: delivering change for victims in this mandate.”
“We must get support to the victims of hate-motivated crimes and incidents urgently, and I welcome the commitment from Minister Long that, during her time in office, that will be put in place with foundational powers. <BR /> <BR />I urge the House to vote in favour of our amendment, which provides, in the remainder of this short mandate, for achievable and innovative change in the face of challenging landscapes. By moving to a new statutory aggravation model, we can truly ensure that motivation and bias considerations are at the forefront of delving into the root of the crime. By allowing the hate motivation of an offence to be considered at the start of the investigative stage, we not just encourage good practice in the collection of evidence but recognise that we cannot separate the crime from the bias.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the Opposition's bringing this to the Floor today. While I support the spirit of the motion, I urge the House to vote in favour of the Alliance amendment that my colleagues and I have tabled. It is absolutely right that we, as an Assembly, are ambitious about what we can do, especially how we can help vulnerable victims. I absolutely agree that hate crime legislation is one example of an area where we could and should have a collective ambition for progress. I am more than satisfied that, despite the limitations of a shortened mandate, the Justice Minister is ambitious and committed on the issue and is determined to achieve change. We should make every effort to reform hate crime legislation in this mandate, and I am focused on what we can do rather than on the legislative vehicle through which we do it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Over the last 12 months preceding March this year, we saw a spike in racially motivated hate incidents, with an increase of over 132, and there was an increase in incidents against those who are transgender and those with faith or who practise religion. We cannot let that happen. We cannot let those statistics sit on a shelf, not acted on or challenged in the most impactful and efficient way, which would allow us to get trauma-informed support and justice for victims. They are not just statistics; they are human experiences. Such violations of anyone's basic human rights to be and live as who they are go against our principles and the moral fabric of our progressive society. I know that the Justice Minister is committed to meaningful action on hate crime. It is an issue of fundamental importance to our party.”
“<BR /> <BR />Hate crime, which is an attack on someone because of who they are or what they believe in, is unacceptable across the board. It leaves people and the communities around them feeling not just hurt but totally discriminated against and unaccepted by the world. If you look at the hate-motivated crime statistics published by the PSNI at the end of May, you will see that they highlight the spectrum of abuse that those across our society experience, a horrid abuse and hatred that does not represent the majority of people in Northern Ireland, who are kind and warm-hearted.”
“I support the call for legislation to tackle hate crime in Northern Ireland. We must take sincere and pragmatic action to protect our communities, ensuring that everyone has full legal protection to be who they are without targeted abuse or harassment. That requires a cross-sectoral and cross-society approach, putting responsibility not just on every part of the justice system but on our whole social ecosystem to prioritise prevention and intervention on behalf of those who are most vulnerable to experiencing harm. It is essential that the steps that we take are victim-centred and recognise the trauma for people of any hate incident or crime and how our justice system is set up, as it can be now, to reanimate those experiences.”
“Minister, research from Cara-Friend shows that 68% of pupils in secondary school who are LGBTQ+ are bullied due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. What plans do you and your Department have to tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools?”
“Thank you, Minister. I am conscious that you mentioned this in your answer, but what support in accessing part-time learning courses can your Department provide specifically for people with disabilities, caring responsibilities or long-term illnesses?”
“Thank you, First Minister. Will the First Minister commit to delivering a bill of rights in this mandate, as was committed to in previous political agreements?”
“First Minister, can you provide us with an update on the appointment of a Commissioner for Victims and Survivors?”
“Establishing a long-term, sustainable solution to support the supply of veterinary medicines between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is crucial and must not be delayed any longer.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, has been diligently addressing the issue since he took office and will persist in advocating for our agri-food sector and the health and well-being of all animals.”
“Diseases such as botulism and pneumonia, for instance, are emerging and increasing in number but require vaccines from outside the UK. Inability to protect our animals from those diseases will not only affect our economy but have implications for human health as well as for the health of the animals. <BR /> <BR />A point that is not emphasised as often as it should be is that this will affect veterinary medicines for not only farm animals but domestic animals such as pet dogs and cats. People in Northern Ireland cherish their pets as integral members of their family, and this should be deeply concerning for many across our community.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our farming communities are vital to Northern Ireland's societal framework and economic sustainability. Farmers, veterinarians and industry representatives have repeatedly raised the issue of veterinary medicines and expressed concern about the potential impact of this. A significant number of veterinary medicines are at risk — we know that — and we undoubtedly face a potentially devastating situation that will seriously affect animal welfare. Given that Northern Ireland supplies meat and dairy products around the world, the discontinuation of veterinary medicines will significantly impact on our food supply chain. A vital element of the food supply chain is protecting our animals from diseases.”
“I rise to address this crucial issue, which should have been resolved a long time ago. Alliance welcomes the motion and the opportunity for a discussion that focuses on animal welfare, farming and food security. As we approach the midpoint of 2024, it is seriously concerning that we are no clearer on what will happen at the end of 2025, with no tangible movement or actions evident on the issue. There will inevitably be too little time to make any of the necessary changes before we hit the end of the grace period. Whilst the extension of the grace period was welcome, we must now establish a long-term solution through a veterinary medicine agreement. Such an agreement is necessary to provide much-needed certainty and stability for our industries, ensuring the smooth functioning of our operations and trade activities.”
“Thank you Minister. At the Priory and Springhill surgeries in my constituency, as well as at others, patients queue from first thing in the morning, only to be told that they cannot get a GP appointment. Patients phone as soon as the phone lines open and are told that, in a matter of minutes, all appointments have gone. What do you say to those who need a GP appointment?”
“Minister, can you please outline how you will use the money allocated to you to tackle waiting lists? Will you be proactive and look for efficiencies across your Department?”
“We owe it to victims and survivors to fight for a better Northern Ireland so that more people can have the help that they need from front-line services and we can fund measures to prevent this, allowing women and girls to lead fulfilling lives free from harm and abuse. I call, please, for the funding needed to deliver the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls and for urgent sign-off by the Executive.”
“They are suffering, while we are the only part of these islands that does not have a strategic framework or action plan to deal with the issue. Last week, on the Executive Office Committee, we heard from local women's centres, Women's Aid, Nexus, the Rural Women's Network, the Women's Resource and Development Agency and Rape Crisis. The community and voluntary sector is picking up the pieces where the Executive are failing to deliver. The sector is doing the grassroots work on the ground, supporting women, but it needs help, support and, crucially, fully funded services to support vulnerable women and girls. <BR /> <BR />We cannot have any more delays. Since 2020, 19 women have been killed in Northern Ireland.”
“Again, I rise to talk again about the absolutely unacceptable levels of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland, and I make a respectful plea to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to prioritise the issue. <BR /> <BR />It has been over 100 days since the return of the Assembly and Executive, and all parties have committed to making the issue their priority. Some elected representatives were told that a strategic framework and action would be ready by last year. One hundred days later, we have still not had it signed off by the Executive. With 98% of women in Northern Ireland experiencing at least one form of violence, abuse or harassment in their lifetime, how many more stories do we need to hear? <BR /> <BR />Women are being murdered in their homes. They are being abused and harassed.”
“Minister, you said that you condemn intimidation in all its forms, so will you agree that domestic violence and abuse is some of the most traumatic intimidation that a person can face, and will you commit to the review including intimidation points for victims of such abuse?”
“I thank the Minister for her work in ensuring that the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill applies in Northern Ireland. The Horizon scandal has been horrendous. How quickly will the people in Northern Ireland who have been affected by it find out that their conviction has been quashed?”
“Minister, earlier this year, there was a horrendous incident in North Down, when a child who was leaving school was hit by a car on the Bryansburn Road. What will the Minister do to put urgent safety measures in place on the Bryansburn Road in Bangor to make sure that children walking to and from Grange Park Primary School and St Comgall's Primary School can do so safely?”
“I was recently interviewed for a school project by a teenager called Alicia, who is from Millisle in our constituency. The interview was about pollution and environmental sustainability, but she is also a keen member of the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster. Young people get that we cannot pit environment and agriculture against each other. Minister, what are you doing to get more young people involved in farming?”
“Does the Member agree that that is an absolutely harrowing statistic, which only reinforces the need for a ceasefire?”
“We must extend that internationally to help secure a just future for every Palestinian and Israeli so that they can live in peace, safety and dignity, with equal rights.”
“I was happy to stand with that, with others, when the Assembly was not sitting, to try to make the case for lasting peace and ceasefire and to highlight the horrendous treatment of women and girls in the region and the violence that they are experiencing. <BR /> <BR />This should not be a debate. We should always, in every instance, call for peace, safety and security. Our commitment to a two-state solution reflects our belief in the principles of self-determination, mutual recognition and peaceful coexistence. When we look at what has been allowed to occur to the Palestinian people over the last decades and months and even the past weekend, we know that something has to give. Where does all the death and destruction end? In Northern Ireland, we often pride ourselves on being kind, helpful and neighbourly to those in our towns and cities.”
“<BR /> <BR />I hope that this is not an issue for politicking; these are people's lives. I genuinely thank the SDLP for tabling the motion in a way that a lot of people, I hope, will support. I also pay tribute to Sinéad, as chair of the all-party group on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security. As chair of the group, Sinéad coordinated a letter with other members. We wrote to the president of the UN Security Council, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and Micheál Martin TD. A lot of people in our communities want to see us doing something and having our voices heard.”
“<BR /> <BR />The ongoing and horrific violations of international law have led to mass death and, with that, mass grief. Communities who, just like you and I, have hopes of building a better life for their children and younger generations and those around them in their communities are experiencing immense suffering, unlike us in the Chamber today, who, after going back and forth with our words and motions, will go home to our warm beds and hot showers while they fight for their lives in apocalyptic conditions, cramped into rooms with dozens of others, unable to access sanitised water and facing extreme nutritional deficiencies. We cannot stand silent over the devastating cycle of violence and genocidal acts. The atrocities are innumerable in so many ways and to so many people. All of it is despicable.”