Sian Mulholland
North Antrim · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Members from different parties recognised that our justice system must continue to evolve and continue to have children, young people and victims at its heart. What, we know, works to reduce offending and create safer communities has that support. <BR /> <BR />Not every contribution reflected that approach.”
“I will use my final Member's statement before recess to reflect on the work of the Ten is Too Young Coalition and all those who have worked so passionately to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR), including Voice of Young People in Care, the Children's Law Centre, NIACRO, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Childre…”
“We so often hear calls in the Chamber for legislation that is evidence-led, data-driven and compliant with our human rights obligations. Those are principles that I wholeheartedly support, but they cannot be principles that are applied only when they are convenient. Children's rights are human rights too.”
“<BR /> <BR />The triggering of the petition of concern mechanism was a misuse of a mechanism that was designed to protect minority rights. Here it is, blocking change designed to protect those who are most vulnerable.”
“Safeguarding falls within your remit, Minister. We know that, but we also know that it is the responsibility of each and every one of us. That is part of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. Faith-based counselling is not subject to the same regulation as other clinical counselling services.”
“Thank you, Minister. I am glad to hear you say that the role played by social workers is "complex and challenging". From what I hear from those who have contacted me, social workers are stretched to capacity. What is the Department doing to address that?”
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“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. We have a duty when it comes to the language that we use in here. If people in our communities have concerns, and many do, bring them to us. Let us work together to address them with compassion, truth and facts, not fear and scapegoating. <BR /> <BR />I will return to the points that my North Antrim colleague made. Some 86% of all housing in Northern Ireland is occupied by people who were born here. In North Antrim, the percentage rises to 88%. Seventy-two per cent of tenants in the private rented sector across Northern Ireland are born here. In North Antrim, the percentage is 73%. The percentage of people in social housing in North Antrim is 89%.”
“Asylum seekers do not raise people's heating bills. There are consequences as a result of decades of political neglect, chronic underinvestment, unstable government and austerity, and those are not people's neighbours' fault. Many of the people who are targeted by the motion are here because they fled war, persecution and hardship that many of us can barely imagine, all whilst bringing children with them. <BR /> <BR />No human being is illegal. The language that is being used is so demoralising and dehumanising. If the safe and legal channel for asylum is removed, that plays into the hands of the gangs that some Members mentioned that profit off —.”
“Those remarks were made by a Member from the party that proposed today's motion: the same party that is doing exactly what its Member condemned last summer. The very people who were attacked last summer are the people whom the Assembly stood together to support, yet they are now being blamed in the motion for the pressures on housing, GP appointments, public services and education. The irony is striking, but the message is dangerous. <BR /> <BR />I want to be clear: I am not here to dismiss the concerns of those in our communities who feel anxious, frustrated or fearful, if those feelings are valid. The blame in the motion, however, is being directed at the wrong people. Migrants are not the reason that people are struggling to get a GP appointment. Refugees are not the reason that people cannot afford housing.”
“I will begin by reminding the House why we were recalled to the Chamber last August: it was in response to the deeply disturbing racist riots that broke out. I will quote from a speech that was made at the time:”
“Without strategic, long-term and sustained funding — not a one-year Budget — Northern Ireland risks losing vital cultural assets that enrich our society and contribute to economic growth. <BR /> <BR />If we are to truly build a fairer and more inclusive Northern Ireland, we have to prioritise investment in the services and strategies that protect our most vulnerable. While the Budget provides critical funding for the Department for Communities, it is insufficient in key areas. It leaves too many gaps that threaten progress. We have to demand long-term strategic solutions that address poverty, housing insecurity, employment barriers and the sustainability of our cultural and heritage organisations.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although investment in arm's-length bodies such as the Arts Council, Libraries NI and National Museums NI is a positive step in maintaining public engagement with the arts, culture and heritage, significant barriers remain. Funding constraints continue to limit the ability of arts organisations to plan for long-term sustainability, deliver ambitious and innovative projects and sustain operations in the face of rising costs. Inflation, pay pressures and a lack of dedicated investment for sector-wide growth create instability, making it difficult for artists, cultural practitioners and heritage organisations to thrive. Accessibility and inclusion in the arts require meaningful long-term support, yet financial limitations often prevent expansion into underserved communities.”
“The allocation for new-build social homes that will allow for around 1,000 new starts falls well below the target of 2,000, reinforcing concerns that too many families and individuals will continue to face housing insecurity through the Budget. Furthermore, homelessness prevention measures, although receiving an additional £3·7 million, still lack the necessary investment to truly tackle the root causes of housing instability. Without comprehensive, forward-thinking funding, the housing crisis will simply deepen. Having a housing supply strategy is useful, but, when it is not backed by adequate resources and funding lines in the Budget, it will not allow us to meet the challenges that we face.”
“When we remove those structural barriers and offer meaningful social protections, such as the removal of the two-child limit, people can move out of poverty with dignity rather than being forced into precarious employment. Economic justice demands a much broader and more inclusive approach. <BR /> <BR />Housing is a fundamental pillar of our society. A reliable and appropriate living situation directly impacts on physical and mental well-being. The housing crisis persists and remains one of the most pressing issues facing our communities. While £100 million has been earmarked in the Budget for social housing, that is a significantly inadequate amount, leaving a £161·3 million funding gap that will hinder progress in meeting the growing demand.”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst the Minister says that employment is the best way out of poverty and I acknowledge that employment can be a crucial factor in economic stability, it is misguided to claim that it is the best route out of poverty. It is not just a matter of job availability; it is about deeply entrenched systemic inequalities, institutional barriers and a lack of social protections for the most vulnerable that we see not being addressed in the Budget. A truly effective approach to tackling poverty requires us to prioritise equitable access to healthcare, which was mentioned, and housing, education and welfare support to ensure that individuals are not left behind.”
“Again, it has to rely on in-year monitoring. My concern is that, without dedicated financial backing, efforts to reduce poverty and provide essential services to those in need will remain stagnant, further entrenching inequality. The absence of those committed resources in the Budget threatens to undermine any improvement of living standards and support for communities most affected by economic hardship. Whilst maintaining the discretionary support grants at £25·5 million provides stability for those facing financial difficulties, the broader financial landscape remains constrained. With a £17 million funding gap, the Department is left navigating those severe limitations, restricting opportunities for new investment and reinforcing the urgency that we need for robust financial planning.”
“The full scope and breadth of the cuts remain unclear, and the Department's failure consistently to collect vital data, such as how many individuals receive four points in a single element of the personal independence payment (PIP) assessment, leaves us, as policymakers and legislators, in the dark about how those changes will unfold. Without that robust financial planning and clear data, the repercussions could be even more far-reaching, risking the well-being of thousands who rely on disability support. <BR /> <BR />Equally troubling is the lack of forward investment in the Executive's anti-poverty strategy, which the Minister's Department is responsible for leading on. Tackling poverty should be at the heart of the Government's agenda, but the strategy has been left without any necessary funding to drive meaningful change.”
“The £270 million allocated falls £161·3 million short of the Department's request, potentially limiting investment in infrastructure projects that are vital for community development. While the full allocation of £48·1 million in financial transactions capital is welcome, we have to assess whether that will sufficiently support long-term improvements and investment. Despite the urgency and significance of proposed changes to the disability welfare payments, no budget line has been allocated to address their impact, and the Minister has indicated that he will rely on in-year monitoring. That omission is really concerning, as those reforms will undoubtedly be the most pressing issue facing vulnerable citizens in our society in the coming year, with potentially devastating consequences.”
“I rise as an Alliance spokesperson for communities. While the total of £940·9 million resource DEL, £270 million capital DEL and £48·1 million in financial transactions capital provides substantial funding, critical challenges remain. The Department's earmarked resource funding of £184·1 million meets key needs, including, as mentioned before, the benefit delivery staffing and the universal credit services, which are essential for vulnerable individuals. However, the £98·6 million shortfall in non-ring-fenced resource DEL poses a serious risk to service delivery, and we have to examine whether that funding gap will hinder the Department's ability to meet demand. <BR /> <BR />Capital funding remains another area of concern.”
“Will the Minister give more detail on the £360 million for the fishing industry and coastal communities?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Will you give us an assessment of the impact of the transitional arrangement on the community and voluntary sector? Have you had any engagement with the community and voluntary sector to ascertain how it can overcome the barriers that it will face during the transitional period?”
“Minister, can you outline how the fleadh will contribute to the development and delivery of the Department's strategic aims when it comes to arts, culture and shared community spaces?”
“Minister, will the GP contract investment attract more GPs in order to stabilise the service? Our constituents want more access to GPs, and we need you to stabilise it. What are you going to do, if we see more GP hand-backs?”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Given that Standing Orders state that Ministers should bring matters of importance to the House before they reach the media and given that the anti-poverty strategy that the Minister for Communities is supposedly introducing was discussed in the media last week, will you look into why we still have not seen a statement from the Minister for Communities about the important and long-awaited anti-poverty strategy?”
“They need to know that there is help available, particularly from platforms such as the Internet Watch Foundation, to remove inappropriate images. We have used the adage, "What happens online stays online", but that can give young people who are caught up in inappropriate image-sharing scandals a feeling of hopelessness. We have to reform RSE to include real conversations about online coercion and respect in a digital world. As someone who has spent years listening to and working with young people on the ground, I want to see those safety nets in place. I hope that all children can grow up safe online and offline.”
“We have to ensure that online safety is a core part of the curriculum and not an afterthought, because it works. Online safety needs to be meaningfully embedded in order for it to be most effective. It should not be just a PowerPoint once a year or a bit of a tick box. There must be a sustained, age-appropriate approach to teaching about grooming, consent, coercion, body image, misinformation, fact-checking, AI and healthy relationships. <BR /> <BR />Alongside that, we have to increase counselling provision in schools so that, when harm happens, support is not weeks or months away. We need to make sure that people know that they are not alone or helpless. That was really clear to me in my previous job. Young people need to know that they can speak to trusted adults, whether that is at their school, at youth provisions or, indeed, at home.”
“Among the14- to 18-year-old cohort, girls are significantly more likely than boys to be asked to send nude photos, to be sent inappropriate photos or to see content promoting self-harm, eating disorders, body dysmorphia or suicide. That is hard to take in, but it is happening day in, day out. <BR /> <BR />Parents want to help, but they, too, are struggling. Just 8% of those teens said that their parents are interested in their online activity. The parents in the focus groups described their guilt and fear and how they feel completely out of their depth. They are stuck between the pressure to let their children keep up with their peers and the fear of what they are being exposed to. For me, it is all about support for young people, for their parents and for school communities.”
“<BR /> <BR />Stepping in does not mean restrictions and outright banning straight away; it also means equipping our young people with the capacity to navigate that space safely and build their resilience. It is also about empowering parents to feel confident in those spaces so that they can guide their children. It is about ensuring that everyone in society knows that they have a part to play in safeguarding. It is also important to note that this is not just about young people being glued to screens; it is not just that. It is about the fact that one in five children had experienced something nasty or unpleasant online in the previous two months. That happens most commonly on social media apps.”
“I am acutely aware of the need for mobile phones for continuous glucose monitoring, and, as a rural MLA and someone who grew up with no neighbours within a half-mile radius, I know only too well the lifeline that a mobile phone can be for young people who miss the bus, need to arrange collection, or, indeed, in reducing the isolation that growing up in a rural setting can bring. However, as a former child protection trainer, I have also seen what happens when adults and those with nefarious motivations hijack that space. When companies design apps to be addictive, predators exploit vulnerability and online platforms enable bullying, abuse, coercion and misogyny, that is when the space turns from safe to unsafe, and that is when we have a duty to act.”
“That report, funded by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, found that most people use their phones to message friends, watch videos, listen to music, shop, learn and so much more. For some, particularly our LGBTQI+ youth or those facing exclusion from school, being online is a genuine source of support and community, so I am not here to demonise technology. As a youth worker and now as a legislator, I have seen how the online world can empower, inform and connect our young people in truly brilliant ways.”
“As a former youth worker, I witnessed young people's journey through the joy and the pressure that come with growing up, and, in the past decade, I saw significant change in how that pressure was increasingly being shaped by the online world. For many of our young people, being online is not part of life; it is life. That was made crystal clear in last year's 'Growing up Online' report, which was produced by Professor Noel Purdy and his colleagues at Stranmillis. As one young person quoted in the report put it:”
“Again, this is not some intangible policy area that we are debating. It is the lived reality for individuals living in our communities, and it is our duty, as my colleague Kellie Armstrong pointed out, to represent all in our society — not some, but all. We need to do all that we can to commit to having justice in law, equality in care and dignity in every corner of life, because every person deserves to walk this world as who they are freely, safely and proudly. I commend the motion to the House.”
“Surely we all believe that every citizen whom we govern deserves to live a life free from discrimination, violence and harm, so why hesitate to bring forward a strategy that reflects those values?”
“Going back to the words of our motion, why would anyone in the Chamber not want to affirm their:”
“Serious gaps in data collection were referenced. Concerns about the lack of inclusion in the Programme for Government of LGBTQI+ voices and the absence of progress on issues such as IVF access for LGBT+ people must not be ignored. <BR /> <BR />Under New Decade, New Approach, the Executive made a promise. It is time that we delivered on that promise. Being trans, non-binary or queer is not the problem: discrimination is; injustice is; delay is; silence is.”
“They apologised and said that they had felt dishonest with everyone whom they had met that week. What kind of world do we want to create for young people who are not encouraged or supported to be their genuine selves? <BR /> <BR />With regard to the strategy, which is what the motion is about, not the Supreme Court ruling that is referenced by the DUP amendment, on 13 March, the Rainbow Project's Alexa Moore gave evidence to the Communities Committee and described the failure to progress both the gender equality strategy and the LGBTQI+ strategy as a missed opportunity to ensure equality across government and society in Northern Ireland. It was emphasised that those equality strategies were designed originally to be brought forward together: they were interlinked. The current piecemeal approach is not sufficient.”
“They wanted to thank me for providing a truly diverse and inclusive experience for their child. They said that it was the first time that really interesting conversations had opened up at home, and that the process of actually meeting someone with that identity had demystified some of the tough questions that they had. On another occasion, a young person came to me on work experience. On completion of their week, they came back to volunteer because they had loved it. Before their first day of volunteering, they took me aside and very anxiously asked me whether it would be OK if I called them by another name because, when they came for work experience, their school had banned them from telling me the name that they had chosen and the fact that they were transitioning.”
“<BR /> <BR />When it comes to education, schools should be a refuge and a safe haven, but fewer than half of our LGBT+ pupils feel safe at school. Some 61% of trans pupils report difficulty in accessing appropriate toilets. Over 60% are negatively impacted on by sports policies. Forty-eight per cent of trans pupils have been bullied due to their identity. Of those who report, 54% feel unsupported in their school environment. <BR /> <BR />In my previous role as the manager of youth projects in the arts sector, I worked with a wide community of facilitators and young people, including, but not limited to, those who were trans, non-binary and queer. I want to put forward a bit of a human aspect. On one occasion, a parent contacted me about a project that I was delivering.”
“When the headlines are filled with dehumanising language, television debates treat people's identities as opinion fodder and political discourse regularly undermines or seeks to push out trans existence, it sends a clear message: "You are not safe here". <BR /> <BR />The consequences of such abuse are that eight in 10 trans people have reported anxiety and more than half have reported shame, fear and isolation. Higher rates of mental health issues are experienced by trans people: 40% have self-harmed and nearly 43·5% have attempted suicide. Those are not just numbers: they are a crisis in motion, driven not by trans identity but by rejection, marginalisation, neglect and the narrative that continues around them.”
“I have a lot to get through. I am really sorry. <BR /> <BR />That data leaves us in no doubt that online spaces have become battlegrounds for trans people. What we say in the Chamber and the actions that we take as political representatives matter. We have to acknowledge the toxic public discourse that surrounds trans communities today, as my colleague pointed out. As highlighted by the advisory panel, growing media hostility that is targeted particularly at trans individuals is not just harmful in the abstract or the intangible but actively discourages LGBTQI+ people from entering or remaining in public life.”
“<BR /> <BR />We also cannot ignore the alarming scale of online abuse that is directed at transgender people. It is not just harassment or bullying but a form of targeted sustained violence. A Brandwatch report analysed 10 million social media posts from the UK and US over a three-and-a-half-year period. It identified 1·5 million transphobic posts. The same report found that transphobia was politically driven and that there were clear spikes in abuse when political leaders proposed restrictions on trans rights or made comments about the rights of —.”
“They do not have to be trans, or pretend to be trans, to do so, even though that is the media story of the day. According to the expert advisory panel, 67% of transgender people in Northern Ireland say that they avoid being open with their gender identity for fear of abuse. That is two thirds of that community being silenced and shrinking themselves to stay safe. More than half — 53% — have experienced at least one hate-related incident. The abuse starts early. It starts in school corridors, at home and, sometimes, even in care. For some, that leads to homelessness. According to research, a shocking 25% of trans people experience homelessness in their lifetime; something that is within the wheelhouse of the Minister who responded to the debate.”
“I wholeheartedly agree. I also pay tribute to my colleague and friend for the bravery that he showed just to be himself in a world where he was admonished for such. Thank you, John, for your contribution. <BR /> <BR />On safety, I want to make a quick comment on Mr Gaston's comments. In the past decade, not one trans person has been convicted of a femicide — not one. When we look at the violence against women and girls strategy, what are we looking at? What are we trying to work against? A trans person is more likely to be a victim than a perp. The crime statistics show that, if a man wants to make a woman feel unsafe — I go back to your comment, Mr Buckley — or enter their safe spaces, there is not an awful lot that is going to stand in their way.”
“The strategy expert advisory panel's report highlights that trans people experience more profound barriers in safety, healthcare, mental well-being and education than their LGB+ peers do.”
“I know that some of what was said in the Chamber today and recently elsewhere in the media may have felt hurtful or even dehumanising of who you are as a person: I am so sorry for that. I hope that you know that many of us, across the Chamber and across our communities, see you, stand with you and will keep fighting for a society in which you are safe, supported and celebrated, just as you are. It is important for those words to be said in this place and on this day. <BR /> <BR />I will focus some of my comments on one group in particular: trans and non-binary people, who face some of the most extreme, sustained and institutional forms of discrimination across every aspect of life. Even within an already marginalised LGBTQI+ community, they are disproportionately discriminated against.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I am really glad that we had the opportunity to speak today, as we mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Today is a day to affirm our commitment to equality and state clearly, in the Chamber, that everyone deserves to live in safety and dignity, and to be free, seen and respected for who they are. Those are ideals that my party has had at its heart for decades, regardless of votes or invitations. <BR /> <BR />I say this to every trans, non-binary or queer young person who may watch this debate or parts of it, and I want them to hear it clearly: you are loved, you are valid and you are enough.”
“Minister, you know that our schools should be safe havens and safe spaces for all young people. I know that you have said that on a few occasions. Given that 48% of LGBTQIA young people admit that they have been bullied in schools, and given that we know that they are more at risk of suicidal tendencies and self-harm, what will be, and is being, put in place in schools to support our trans, non-binary and queer young people?”
“Minister, will you elaborate on how the school milk subsidy scheme helps to deliver on the strategic priorities that are outlined in the Northern Ireland food strategy framework?”
“Minister, artificial intelligence by its nature evolves and changes rapidly. Will you advise on whether there was any consideration of how training resources can be updated regularly as the technology evolves and changes?”
“Thank you so much, Minister. My question follows on from the previous one, which was on carer's leave. There has been a really low uptake of that leave in GB, where it is already in law. You referenced the research on paid carer's leave, so is there a timeline for that and for any discussions about paid carer's leave going through the Executive?”
“<BR /> <BR />I will once more be unequivocal: art can and should be provocative and challenging, and great art has the power to change minds and nurture new ideas, but statements that promote violence and proscribed organisations, regardless of their target or intent, are to be condemned and challenged, and I wholeheartedly do so.”
“<BR /> <BR />The footage purported to be of members of Kneecap shouting at people to kill their MP and professing support for Hamas and Hezbollah crosses a line from art as a tool of protest to incitement. It takes the focus of the message of solidarity away from the atrocity and puts it on to the messenger, as we have seen from the countless headlines and column inches that Kneecap have garnered lately. Whilst that does little to harm ticket sales, the noise detracts the glare from where it should rightfully be. The valid political views that Kneecap holds on the conflict in Gaza are being undermined and overshadowed by those actions.”
“It has everything to do with yelling at an audience to kill their MP. <BR /> <BR />In the past decade, we have seen the murder of two sitting MPs: Jo Cox and David Amess. I witnessed my party leader, Naomi Long, receive death threats on multiple occasions. My colleague Stewart Dickson's office was burnt out. My friend Councillor Christine Bower's windows were smashed. Other colleagues were sent bullets to their home and sympathy cards on their supposed demise to their office. As I look around the Chamber, I see others whom I know will have experienced the terror of the knock on the door from the PSNI to inform them of a threat to their life.”
“I am not to be found wanting when it comes to advocating and speaking in the Chamber for the arts as a powerful force for change, for the expression of solidarity and of political pressure. In the Chamber, I have also been a vocal supporter of the Irish language, which I want to be a living, breathing vehicle for cultural expression and identity that inspires and nourishes all, particularly our younger generations. <BR /> <BR />The issue that I raise is nothing to do with a smear campaign. It is not about holding perfectly valid political views about human rights abuses in Gaza. It is nothing to do with the horrific scenes of collective punishment and mass starvation of the Palestinian people that we have witnessed. It has everything to do with standing on a stage, shouting support for proscribed organisations such as Hezbollah.”
“As my North Antrim colleague Philip McGuigan outlined, 17 months is a long time for a community to be cut off. I am glad to hear that there will be preventative works. Will there be any works to the parallel Drumavoley Road to take some of the strain away from Glenshesk Road and alleviate future risks?”
“His leadership opened the door wider for those who had felt pushed to the margins, those who had felt as if they were excluded and those who longed for a Church that was built on compassion rather than judgement. As we mourn his passing, I hope that the Church will continue on the path that Pope Francis so fearlessly set — a path that is grounded in humanity, justice and love. If it does, the seeds that he planted in so many hearts will continue to grow for generations to come.”