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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“<BR /> <BR />Recently, I spoke to a woman who provides full-time care for her mother, who has advanced dementia. She described how her savings have all but disappeared. She relies on credit cards to cover her everyday essentials. The stress of mounting debt keeps her awake at night, and she constantly fears the bill that will come in that she just will not be able to pay. She told me that, despite all that, her biggest concern is ensuring, first, that her mum has no idea of the mounting debts and that she has everything to make her feel safe and comfortable. Tragically, her story is not unique, as Gerry explained. We know from the state of caring survey published by Carers NI in January that 28% of carers struggle to make ends meet. That figure rises to 44% for those who receive carers' allowance.”
“The figure of £5·8 billion annually equates to 85% of the Health Department's entire budget. I loved Gerry's analogy of the invisible hand that keeps the economy up, but all that those carers face are immense challenges and insufficient support. The Carer Poverty Commission found that the poverty rate for carers in Northern Ireland stands at 28·3%. That is considerably higher than the poverty rate amongst adults in Northern Ireland who do not have caring roles, which stands at around 17·4%, and that for carers in the rest of the UK. That is unacceptable. I will outline why change is needed, how we can potentially bring about change and the enormous benefits such change will deliver not only for carers but for those whom they care for, their employers and our wider economy as a result.”
“The challenge is inherently cross-cutting, which is why we also call on the Economy Minister to prioritise paid carer's leave as a fundamental component of the solution. Additionally, the amendment broadens the scope by urging the Department of Health to consider providing adequate access to respite services. A joined-up approach like that is essential if we are to address the profound challenges that carers face and deliver the real, meaningful change that they so urgently deserve. <BR /> <BR />As Gerry pointed out, there are more than 222,000 unpaid carers across our community. That represents one in eight adults. They dedicate their lives to supporting loved ones with disabilities, long-term illnesses or age-related conditions, and their contributions are staggering.”
“I thank Gerry Carroll for tabling the motion, which is really important and offers tangible solutions to the challenges faced by so many unpaid carers. It does not address all the challenges by any stretch, but it is a crucial starting point and highlights an issue of paramount importance. Like Gerry, I will focus attention on a long-standing inequity that has been ignored by successive UK Governments: the relentless struggle of unpaid carers in Northern Ireland, whose invaluable contributions are too often met with poverty, hardship and worsening mental and physical health. <BR /> <BR />Our amendment adds an important dimension and another solution by emphasising the need for a cross-departmental approach to tackling the issue.”
“What engagement have you or your Department had with your DWP counterparts to ensure that our unique circumstances are taken into account in the UK Government's pending Green Paper on welfare reform?”
“<BR /> <BR />The challenges that first-time buyers face cannot be tackled by the Department for Communities in isolation; it is a cross-departmental issue. I support the call for a comprehensive package of interventions to be part of that solution, but unless we fix the structural issues that limit housing supply and improve economic conditions for first-time buyers, those interventions will only be a sticking plaster.”
“<BR /> <BR />Then there is the direct affordability challenge for first-time buyers. Prices continue to rise due to the supply-and-demand imbalance. In August 2024, it was estimated that a first-time buyer in Northern Ireland needed a deposit of £17,300. In the current economic climate, with the cost of rent, food, energy and transport continuing to rise, how can anyone be expected to scrape that together? The days of 100% mortgages are long gone. That has led, unsurprisingly, to Northern Ireland having the highest proportion of anywhere in the UK of young adults aged 25 to 35 who live with a parent: 23% compared with the UK average of 18%. That is a staggering statistic. It highlights, once again, how far behind the times we are in addressing the everyday realities of our young people.”
“Whilst the Minister for Communities has an important role to play, this has to be considered as a shared responsibility. The Department for Infrastructure has to take responsibility for the persistent failures in waste water infrastructure that are simply stifling housing development. Approximately 19,000 housing units cannot be connected due to a capacity issue. That is an enormous number of potential homes sitting in limbo. Every delay only adds to the supply problem, which, in turn, drives up prices and makes it even more difficult for first-time buyers. The current funding model for NI Water is a major obstacle. The previous Minister for Infrastructure insisted that the model was fit for purpose, but industry experts, the Northern Ireland Audit Office and NI Water all say otherwise.”
“I really welcome the chance to speak on the motion. It is on an issue that I see time and again in my constituency office: the lack of housing in general but particularly for first-time buyers, especially young people. There are two interconnected issues. First, house prices are too high — we know that — owing to a chronic lack of supply exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis and not-fit-for-purpose waste water infrastructure. Secondly, first-time buyers face an even steeper hill to climb because they do not have existing housing equity to leverage, unlike those who are already on the property ladder and can sell one home to help fund the next. <BR /> <BR />The root of the problem is a major housing shortage; we know that.”
“As others have done, I wish you good luck in your new post, Minister. <BR /> <BR />Will you detail what engagement your predecessor or your Department have had with TEO, specifically the civil contingencies policy branch, about preparation and preparedness for this storm and any future events?”
“Does the Minister consider that those demands can be met?”
“Thank you, deputy First Minister, for your answer. Given that we are 27 years past the agreement, when is it envisioned that we will complete the journey of transition so that some of those funds can be diverted into things such as neighbourhood health projects or tackling rural equality and rural isolation? In my constituency, in places such as Armoy, whilst they do not qualify for funding —.”
“There is a limited offer there, so my ask would be primarily for the Minister for the Economy to engage with the university. In response to my question for written answer, he said that he had had no engagement with the vice chancellor up to that point. It is important that there is a cross-departmental approach because the Department for the Economy has a strong input to and oversight of the campus, whereas the arts offer, obviously, sits with you, Minister. <BR /> <BR />As a cross-party delegation of people who are passionate about the arts and that particular arts infrastructure, we need to do all that we can to protect such a vital asset to the arts community but also to the Causeway coast and glens area. However, I am grateful to the Member for giving us this chance to talk about it.”
“That led us to the realisation that the vice chancellor was not reaffirming where the theatre's future was going to lie in the UU campus. <BR /> <BR />I really appreciate, Maurice, your feedback on the options that were put to you. I was going to suggest, if all Members were agreeable, a cross-party delegation, because we are so much stronger when we come together and when, as a group, we are united in our support for the arts. I would appreciate that, if other Members are interested. <BR /> <BR />I ask that the Minister for Communities considers what support he can give to the theatre. I know only too well that his budget is finite, much as we might wish that he had a blank chequebook, particularly when it comes to the arts.”
“It will ask the council to reaffirm its position that the theatre should remain in operation as a valuable cultural asset in the borough and to agree to write to the university's vice chancellor and the Minister for the Economy to affirm its position and to seek urgent clarity. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and, before that, Coleraine Borough Council were supporting the theatre with a grant of up to £100,000. Technically speaking, that was to help with programme development and a third of its running costs. That shows that there was an investment from local government until 2021, when the vice chancellor stopped requesting the funding from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, which precipitated my colleague, Yvonne Boyle asking whether the university was still committed to the Riverside.”
“In the years before I lived on the north coast, I travelled up, and, if a show was on, we would go out to dinner and make an evening of it. I am not the only one who did that. There are shows that bring people out of the Causeway Coast and Glens into the area, and that cannot be denied. The hospitality businesses benefit from the theatre audiences. For me, however, Riverside is not just a theatre but a community hub, whether for talks, community presentations or for screenings of important plays or consultations. <BR /> <BR />My colleagues on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have tabled a motion that will, hopefully, be heard next month.”
“I did not get tickets for Ballywillan Drama Group's brilliant production of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' either, so I feel your pain, Claire. Is it not amazing that an amateur dramatic production can sell out such a huge run in a theatre that is so accessible? That is wonderful, and that is the joy of community arts in particular and venues such as Riverside. If it reduces its provision or closes, there will be no replacement of that nature. Limavady has the Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Ballymena has The Braid and Coleraine has the brilliant Flowerfield Arts Centre, but those are not of the same size and nature, and the Riverside is a very different venue. <BR /> <BR />Any closure or reduction in provision would have a real impact on the local economy.”
“We see that across the board, whether that is to do with our economy or our investment, and there is a regional imbalance in our arts infrastructure. The Riverside is an irreplaceable part of Northern Ireland's arts infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />As part of the University of Ulster's Coleraine campus — I am sorry; I was a UU graduate, and it will never be Ulster University to me — the theatre plays a vital role in arts education and creative industries training. It is that open space where you can get real time on a stage, working behind the scenes and getting hands-on experience of industry skills. As well as that, as others have mentioned, it is a venue for schools and youth theatre productions.”
“For a lot of people, especially those living in the north coast area, the Riverside is their first interaction with the arts, regardless of the art form that they are going to see, because its events are so varied. In a world where creativity and cultural expression are so often overlooked, it is crucial that we recognise and celebrate the profound impact that places such as Riverside and the arts have on our communities, our economy and our collective well-being. <BR /> <BR />As others have mentioned, the cultural heritage and legacy of Riverside is undeniable. It is Northern Ireland's oldest performing theatre outside Belfast, which is an incredible achievement, and I know that it has immense cultural significance for people on the north coast. I really valued Maurice Bradley's contribution about regional imbalance.”
“No? <BR /> <BR />While the Riverside Theatre is not in my constituency of North Antrim, I am so much closer to it than to any other theatre. Over the years, I have been to so many plays, speeches and really interesting talks there as well as all sorts of artistic events. The panto is my family's firm favourite — I think that we saw 'Snow White' there. Riverside's accessibility, family-friendly nature and openness make it such an important venue. <BR /> <BR />As the chair of the all-party group on the arts, I am acutely aware of the importance of having arts venues with accessible pricing structures for the events that they put on.”
“I wonder whether, given that the Minister has previously alluded to treading the boards, he maybe has a personal connection to Riverside. If so, I hope that there is some footage.”
“We need a multi-departmental approach to create a safer environment for future generations.”
“The Minister has heard that before, but he should consider the commissioning of dedicated support services to ensure that treatment is accessible to all, regardless of age, background and postcode. It should not depend on the trust area that you live in. It is not optional; it is an imperative. <BR /> <BR />The harm caused by gambling is preventable, but prevention requires decisive action, particularly for our children and young people. The issue persists because the system currently fails to protect young people, and they are particularly vulnerable because of their impulsivity and developing brains. Therefore, to safeguard their future, we have to implement a comprehensive education programme, strengthen the regulations via the Department for Communities and establish accessible treatment options.”
“Parents need support to recognise the harm of gambling and to foster open conversations with their children, particularly about the risks of loot boxes and online gambling through gaming platforms. That could be a useful sphere. However, education alone is not sufficient, and the prevention measures must adapt to the digital age. Online gambling platforms implementing stringent age verification processes and facing penalties for breaches would be useful, but, as we have heard, regulation of online gambling remains a significant challenge, particularly in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />We must address the current lack of statutory services for gambling addiction in Northern Ireland.”
“That emphasises the need for routine screening in the healthcare and social services sphere. Education has to play a central role in addressing the crisis, and schools should implement age-appropriate, evidence-based programmes that challenge societal norms, explain addiction and teach critical skills, such as understanding probability. I wonder whether we could see a multi-departmental approach, potentially invoking some of the work of the Children's Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015. It is something that has young people at its heart, and we need a multi-departmental approach to the issue. <BR /> <BR />A notable omission in the report was the education of parents and guardians.”
“I thank the Member. My next point is on loot boxes. The loot boxes that are in video games such as 'Fortnite' and 'Minecraft' have further complicated the issue. Whilst they are not legally classified as gambling, those features share similar psychological mechanisms and have been strongly linked to gambling harm. Several countries have taken action, with Belgium and the Netherlands ruling that certain loot box sales constitute gambling, while China requires gaming companies to disclose their reward probabilities. There is a fine line between gaming and gambling. <BR /> <BR />The consequences of gambling harm extend far beyond financial losses. Research that was published in the 'Lancet Public Health' showed that adults experiencing escalating gambling harm are 2·74 times more likely to attempt suicide.”
“The digital age has transformed gambling accessibility, which is exceptionally worrying, given that the legislation governing gambling was introduced in the year that I was born and, as we heard, has not been fully overhauled since. <BR /> <BR />As the APG noted, you do not need to walk into a betting shop any more. You can gamble anonymously and endlessly from your bedroom. Whilst smartphones are often given to children for safety, protection and connectivity, they inadvertently provide easy access to gambling platforms. I have seen it with my children, who, when they have used my tablet, have been given access to games that promote gambling, even when the downloaded apps are classified as age three and over or age five and over. The loot boxes —.”
“A comprehensive public health approach that focuses on the strands of prevention, education, regulation and treatment is essential in mitigating the harm before it escalates to crisis point. <BR /> <BR />The impact of gambling on children and young people is particularly concerning. For example, recent data from the young persons' behaviour and attitudes survey that others have spoken about reveals that 30% of 11-to-17-year-olds have gambled in the past year. Even more troubling is the fact that the most prevalent forms of gambling among that age cohort are those that carry the highest addiction risks, that is, online gambling and fruit and slot machines.”
“I support the motion, and I welcome the report of the all-party group on reducing the harm that is related to gambling. I pay tribute to the chair of the APG, Philip McGuigan, who has been so generous with his lived experience. I am sure that that is not a comfortable space to be in, so, thank you, Philip. <BR /> <BR />The report provides a vital road map for addressing gambling as a public health crisis. I will focus on the impact on children and young people. Gambling should absolutely be officially recognised as a public health issue. Similar to other forms of addiction, the harms of gambling extend far beyond the individuals who are involved to their families and communities.”
“Thank you so much, Minister, for your statement. A lot of single men who are under threat and kept in temporary accommodation stay there for a long time. If intimidation points are taken away, what support will be given to such men, given that we know that it is difficult for a single male in the system? Similarly, there are male victims of domestic violence who have custody of their children but cannot get extra space. Will support be offered to them?”
“<BR /> <BR />I urge Members to support the amendment. My hope is that, by working together and learning from best practice, we can move forward.”
“On environmental advantages, my colleague John Blair mentioned the fact that they produce over 25% less CO2 over their life cycle than single-use nappies and that 98% fewer resources are used in their manufacture compared with disposables. A fact that I was really shocked by is that, if every child in the UK were to switch from disposable nappies to reusable nappies, it would save the equivalent of 700 million car miles in CO2 emissions. That is nearly 3,000 car journeys to the moon. I thought that was an interesting statistic; I am not sure that it is very helpful to this debate, but there you go. Those figures demonstrate how transformative reusable nappies can be when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint. As Gerry pointed out, however, we have to acknowledge that reusable nappies may not be suitable for every family.”
“One of the other benefits of reusable nappies, which I can confirm, is that they are better medically and can help prevent nappy rash if they are used and maintained properly. There are lots of advantages.”
“As a councillor, I received more complaints about the inconsistency of the approach. I was lucky enough to be a councillor on two councils, and I saw different approaches to recycling and waste. Consistency is an issue. It is about a behavioural change. It is also about education with constituents; that was a key point. I will move on. <BR /> <BR />Gerry, you mentioned the poverty premium and said that, at times, reusable nappies can be not as cost-effective for some families. People can save up to £1,000 with reusable nappies over the time that a baby uses them, but I hear what you say: what if you do not have access to a washing machine or adequate facilities? Another thing that I am interested in is innovative solutions, whether that is in roads, plant pots or garden furniture, which Cheryl Brownlee mentioned.”
“Yes, of course. Go ahead. Is it about me jumping on a bin?”
“<BR /> <BR />One of the most promising approaches to tackling the issue outlined in the motion is the promotion of reusable nappy schemes. They offer undeniable benefits. As a councillor, I sought to extend and promote them further, and I was successful in Belfast City Council in being able to offer that opportunity to more families. There is a saving for councils as well, because reusable nappies can significantly reduce the volume of disposable nappies entering the waste stream, which, in turn, lowers our waste processing and landfill costs. They also reduce waste pressures on families with young children, who often face challenges with bin overflow. I am not saying that I am often found jumping on the bin on a Thursday night, but there are definitely challenges.”
“<BR /> <BR />The motion claims that DAERA failed to address disposable nappies and absorbent hygiene products in the recent consultation, 'Rethinking Our Resources'. That is not quite accurate: proposal 12 in the consultation explicitly references absorbent hygiene products, including nappies, and proposes guidance for councils. The Alliance Party's amendment not only corrects that but reinforces the need for effective, forward-thinking solutions to reduce waste and increase recycling, which, I think, we all want to see. As my colleague John Blair pointed out, there is no direct reference to statutory guidance, although I hear what Miss McIlveen is saying in the motion. Otherwise, we are mostly aligned in our desire to see those targets met and our waste reduced.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I feel as though we were having a nappy-off between Miss Brownlee, Mr O'Toole and Mr Carroll about who has changed more nappies. I can confirm to Mr Butler, however, that there are no safety pins and there is no more yellowing terry towelling; they are all quite funky and velcroed these days. We might have to update your knowledge of the reusable nappy. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge Miss McIlveen for highlighting the important issue of disposable nappies — I am really interested in this — and absorbent hygiene products. As we heard, they make up 4% of our residual waste. Addressing that issue is crucial in our efforts to reduce our waste, combat climate change and meet our statutory recycling targets.”
“Does the Member agree that that is exacerbated in rural areas, where the lack of choice and lack of access to supermarkets and lower prices make things even worse?”
“I am delighted to hear that the consultation has been launched. The more quickly we can get it sorted, the better. What engagement has the Minister had with DWP about those who are excluded in GB and whether there will be a direct copy and paste here?”
“Empathy, solutions and a hand up are the three pillars on which we must rebuild our approach to tackling child poverty to ensure that children and families can break free from the cycle of hardship.”
“We need to tackle in-work poverty by raising wages and improving job security. Political reform is equally necessary to ensure that our institutions function effectively and deliver services. By fully implementing Les Allamby's recommendations on welfare mitigations, collaborating with community organisations and setting ambitious, legally binding targets like those in Scotland, we can begin to create a society in which every child has a fair chance to live. <BR /> <BR />I conclude where I began. Ashley at Ballycastle Foodbank shared with me a simple but profound reflection:”
“It goes on. <BR /> <BR />We are at a tipping point. Without immediate action, children in Northern Ireland will continue to suffer: some may even lose their lives as a result of our collective failures. It is not governance; it is negligence. We must all act with urgency and purpose to tackle child poverty. That begins with publishing and implementing a robust anti-poverty strategy, which we are due. That strategy will have to have measurable targets and ring-fenced funding, otherwise it will be simply another strategy. We have to lobby Westminster to reform the welfare system by removing the two-child limit and introducing an essentials guarantee for universal credit to ensure that it meets even the most basic living costs. Affordable childcare must be delivered so that parents can access secure and well-paid jobs.”
“Those who work in some of the organisations say that there is only so much that they can do. They say, "The poor keep getting poorer", "The system is broken", "Universal credit isn't working" and:”
“I want to hold space in the Chamber for their words, because it is our duty not just to parrot statistics and high-level policy positions but to amplify the voices of those who rely on the House to represent their needs. Comments included that we need to change the conversation; have a rights-based, child-centred approach; and address the right to have food and the right not to be hungry. One person said:”
“<BR /> <BR />Low wages and insecure work also exacerbate food poverty. One in four food bank users in Northern Ireland come from working households, and, while it is easy to have the view, "People just need to get a job; they are just on benefits, using food banks", the reality is that paid work is no longer a guaranteed route out of poverty. This morning, Rebecca told me that the more she worked, the worse off she was. Another cause of poverty is political instability and the ability of parties to collapse the very institutions that should be working to protect our most vulnerable. We have to reform our institutions to ensure that they remain functional and continue to deliver. <BR /> <BR />As I said, this morning I met parents who are food bank users and representatives of organisations that have been delivering on the ground.”
“<BR /> <BR />The root causes of food poverty cannot be ignored. Inadequate social security policies, such as the aforementioned two-child limit, disproportionately affect larger families and drive thousands into poverty. The five-week wait forces people to go to illegal moneylenders. During our round-table, I heard from one organisation about a young mother who had her windows put in last week because she could not afford to pay the interest on a loan that she had received from a paramilitary lender. She is the second mother that that organisation has dealt with in recent months. Cuts and freezes to social security since 2010, low wages, insecure work, a lack of social housing and inadequate childcare provision all further trap families in a cycle of poverty. We know that this is not an easy problem to fix, but the solutions are there.”
“Whilst I welcome the extension of the welfare mitigations to March 2028, those measures alone are insufficient to protect vulnerable families. The full impact of the two-child limit is yet to unfold, as it impacts only on children born after 2017. If our policies fail to adapt, the benefits of welfare mitigation will erode well before 2028. Implementing the recommendations of Les Allamby's independent review on welfare mitigations is not optional; it is essential to strengthening protections and preventing further poverty. The cost of long-term inaction is staggering. Beyond the devastating impact on children and families, it costs the Executive up to £1 billion annually. That is an unsustainable financial burden in today's economic climate, particularly when effective preventative measures could dramatically reduce those costs over time.”
“When we took action through temporary cost-of-living payments, such as the £301 payment in spring 2023, food bank usage temporarily fell by 17%, but demand rebounded within weeks. That highlights the inadequacy of short-term fixes in addressing long-term issues.”
“<BR /> <BR />The comparison with Scotland demonstrates that political will backed by ambitious targets can make a tangible difference. Since 2006, when the anti-poverty strategy was first promised, we seem to have done nothing but tumble down a road of delay. In Northern Ireland, there are children relying on food banks who were not even born when the commitment was made for the first anti-poverty strategy. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report could not have been clearer when it stated that the child poverty strategy that we had from 2016 to 2022 was characterised by failure: a failure to monitor outcomes, to ring-fence funding, to prioritise prevention and to utilise the Children's Services Co-Operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015. It was a failure to deliver.”