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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“I welcome the regulations. As the Minister mentioned, gone are the days when people had one job for life and one pension pot. The regulations have to be welcomed, particularly as we look at potentially lowering the age of auto-enrolment in pension schemas and at the need for better retirement planning. Demystifying pensions by allowing people to access and see theirs will be really important in the piece of work done on dashboards so that pensions are not just an intangible concept, where people pay money every month into a pot. I urge the Minister to look at the communication plan for the roll-out, however. It is important to make sure that the dashboards are accessible for everyone, particularly those in the later stages of retirement planning, so that they can utilise the service to its fullest. I welcome the legislation.”
“They deserve our support and a system that works for them, not against them.”
“Whilst it is difficult to quantify their exact contribution, a recent report put the economic value of unpaid carers in Northern Ireland at approximately £5·8 billion. That is 85% of our recent Health budget.”
“Yesterday, we asked DFC if it uses an IT system that is similar to the one used in Great Britain, which automatically identifies carers who have exceeded the weekly earnings cap. We did not get a clear answer. We need clarity. If we have the same system, why do officials not act on such cases more promptly? If we do not have it, what systems are in place for the Department to identify cases earlier? <BR /> <BR />We need to understand how we got into this mess and, more importantly, what will be done to resolve the issues now and prevent them happening to carers in future. We have to improve our systems and interventions in order to support our unpaid carers and prevent the financial hardship that is caused. Unpaid carers are the unsung heroes of our society.”
“For many carers, the overpayments represent a significant financial burden and often push them further into hardship. Whilst the Carer Poverty Commission indicates that one in four carers were living in poverty last year, the rate of poverty amongst those in receipt of this benefit is 46%. That is nearly one in two recipients of carer's allowance living in poverty. <BR /> <BR />I have been in contact with Carers NI. It has not only shone a light on the issue but worked tirelessly to support those impacted. An individual it supports ended up with a debt of over £4,000 by inadvertently going over the earnings threshold by a few pounds a week. I repeat: a few pounds a week. That person is really struggling to pay back the money and has been left in a state of constant fear and worry. They have to cut back on food to get by and are”
“<BR /> <BR />Recent figures, which were obtained by way of an FOI request, revealed that more than £9 million of carer's allowance overpayments had been referred to the Department for Communities debt management branch since 2021 as a result of breaches of the earning rules, which many carers struggle to navigate. Between 2021-22 and 2023-24, a staggering 6,514 carer's allowance overpayments were referred. The average value of those overpayments was £1,413, which is over a third of the annual amount received. Legal proceedings have been initiated in three of those cases, which highlights the extreme measures that are being taken to recover the overpayments.”
“I want to talk about a deeply concerning issue that is having an impact on thousands of unpaid carers in our community. Unpaid carers dedicate time and energy to caring for sick or disabled loved ones, often at great personal and financial sacrifice. They receive a small additional income each week while retaining their carer's allowance payments. It amounts to £151 and not a single penny more, unlike other tapered benefits. The rules that govern the payment are opaque and complex and make it exceptionally difficult and challenging for carers to stay within the limits, especially when their earnings fluctuate or they are new to the caring role.”
“It will ensure that, when there is no other option and a marriage cannot be salvaged, the process of ending it does not inflict additional harm on those involved. The benefits of no-fault divorce are clear: reduced conflict; lower legal costs; better emotional outcomes for children; and a safer and more dignified route out of abusive relationships. We have seen the positive impacts of similar reforms, and I hope that we can work together to create a system that prioritises the well-being of families, reduces unnecessary conflict and supports individuals to move forward with their lives constructively and positively.”
“The reduction in conflict would also lead to lower legal costs, making the process much more accessible to all individuals, particularly those, as I said, who are in a vulnerable situation. <BR /> <BR />The introduction of no-fault divorce in England and Wales has been met with widespread approval. The Law Society of England and Wales has reported that the process has become less contentious and more focused on constructive outcomes, which is a positive for all. Other jurisdictions, such as Scotland and France, have long benefited from having much more straightforward divorce proceedings that do not rely heavily on fault. <BR /> <BR />By introducing no-fault divorce, we have the opportunity to align our laws with the realities that modern families face. The reform is not about making divorce easier; it is about making it less damaging.”
“If victims of domestic violence choose not to disclose that behaviour because they fear the consequences if they do, the extended waiting periods before divorce can allow abusers to maintain control over their life. Abusers can use that period to continue their coercive and controlling behaviour, further endangering the victim. We know that women in particular are most in danger when they have already chosen and indicated their intent to leave. Victims can be subjected to ongoing physical, emotional and psychological abuse during that waiting period. If we removed abusers' ability to contest the divorce, we would further prevent that manipulation and control, which would enable victims to rebuild their life with dignity and security.”
“Children may also be forced or feel forced to take sides and develop resentment towards one or both parents, which affects their long-term emotional bonds, trust and academic achievement. The long-term benefits of no-fault divorce and co-parenting cannot be overstated. When parents are not pitted against each other in a blame game, they are more likely to develop and maintain cooperative parenting relationships. That cooperation is essential for the healthy development of children, who benefit immensely from having both parents actively involved in their life without the shadow of ongoing conflict. <BR /> <BR />As has been said, it is not just children on whom the change will impact but victims of domestic violence. Requiring fault-based facts in divorce petitions can, at times, escalate conflict and endanger survivors.”
“The requirement to assign blame fosters a toxic environment, particularly for women and children, victims of domestic abuse and low-income individuals. Alternatively, couples may remain legally married and endure an unhappy coexistence due to the law requiring a separation period of two years by consent or five without. Those extended waiting periods exacerbate the difficulties experienced by those who are in an already vulnerable situation. I have seen that in my family networks, and it is anything but healthy. <BR /> <BR />A toxic divorce that is characterised by high levels of conflict and blame can, as I said, cause significant emotional and psychological harm to children. When parents are embroiled in those bitter disputes, the children often feel as if they are caught in the middle.”
“The tension and hostility that can permeate a home during a marriage breakdown can have a really lasting impact on everyone, not least children, if they are involved. Even in the most amicable of situations, children can be left feeling confused, scared and emotionally distressed. That is the reality for so many families and children in Northern Ireland, and it is exacerbated by our current fault-based divorce system. <BR /> <BR />A change is long overdue. I thank the Member for tabling the motion. Currently, our divorce process incentivises making allegations about the other's conduct in order to avoid a prolonged separation period. That fosters acrimony and conflict, which causes unnecessary emotional pain and financial burden.”
“Thank you, Minister. Given that we are now almost two months into the new financial year, can the Minister give any reassurances to the arts sector about the budget that it is to receive? Will the Minister agree to meet the group of representative organisations to hear their concerns?”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst I am not enough of a Pollyanna to believe that we will return to a time when hundreds of fishing boats will leave quays all along the shore at 4.00 am every day from 1 May, I hope that we can put in place a multilayered plan that will see the lough return to its delicate balance in the decades to come.”
“We want to see the multifaceted environmental improvement plan on which my colleague Minister Muir has been seeking Executive agreement since March. That plan could be used to address a wide range of environmental criteria, many of which could be directly relevant to the situation in Lough Neagh. I hope that, following the motion today, that will come through as a matter of urgency with full Executive approval. We know that we need fewer dust-gathering strategies and more cooperative action, and, in the Chamber, Members on all Benches have expressed their concern about the biodiversity crisis, although some continue to disagree on some of the actions needed to make positive change.”
“Increasing fines and imposing harsher sanctions and penalties for repeat polluters sends a message that environmental transgressions simply will not be tolerated. We know that investing in waste water infrastructure is paramount, as is supporting nature-friendly farming practices that prioritise sustainability and biodiversity conservation. <BR /> <BR />For me and for my party, perhaps most crucial of all is the imperative to foster cooperation amongst all stakeholders. As my colleague John Blair referenced, it is about getting out of the silos, transcending departmental boundaries and embracing a holistic approach to the protection and preservation of Lough Neagh. By creating a legislative duty to cooperate, we can forge a path forward that honours our collective responsibility to safeguard that invaluable asset for generations to come.”
“In fact, we believe that it will serve as a foundation against the further degradation of our precious natural resources. <BR /> <BR />Since Brexit, Northern Ireland has been without the oversight of the European Commission. The Office for Environmental Protection was established in November 2021 to act as an oversight body across England and Northern Ireland. In response to the Member across the Chamber who was concerned about what difference an independent EPA would make, the biggest thing is that the Office for Environmental Protection did not replace all of the functions that the European Commission held, the most important being the power to levy fines. We have to do all that we can to sanction those who repeatedly pollute our lough.”
“We knew that it would not be fixed overnight, and we are on the brink of another summer of a blighted lough. <BR /> <BR />There are solutions and actions that we can focus on, but they must involve many stakeholders. The motion underscores our collective commitment to address the management of Lough Neagh. Central to those efforts has to be a fully independent environmental protection agency, something that, as my party colleague John Blair mentioned, we have been calling for for many years to ensure comprehensive, independent oversight of Northern Ireland's environmental performance. Such an agency must be given the authority and autonomy to enforce environmental laws, rather than adding to money-wasting layers of bureaucracy, as a Member who spoke previously indicated.”
“Its significance simply cannot be overstated, not least because it provides over 40% of Northern Ireland's drinking water and serves as a sanctuary for countless species of flora and fauna. Yet, despite its importance, we face yet another summer of ecological and biodiversity crisis. The truth is, as has been said before, that this did not happen on a whim. It has been decades in the making, and it will take decades and concentrated commitment and investment to control. High concentrations of phosphates and nitrates from agricultural run-off; the inadequacies of our waste water infrastructure; the relentless growth of invasive species; and the looming spectre of climate change-induced higher temperatures are all factors that have conspired to push Lough Neagh to the brink.”
“The motion will resonate deeply not only with me but with all those who cherish the beauty and ecological significance of Lough Neagh; those who live, work and have built their communities on its shores. As I have said before in the Chamber, although I now represent North Antrim, until last year, when I swapped my view of Ram's Island for Rathlin Island, my connection to the lough was through generations of my father's family, who lived by and worked on the lough. My father made his living fishing for eels. Not many are able to say that any more, more's the pity. <BR /> <BR />Lough Neagh, as we know, is the largest freshwater lake in these islands, but it is not merely a body of water. It is a lifeline for biodiversity, tourism, recreation, fishing and culture.”
“I would be delighted to welcome the Minister to our constituency on the Friday night. I believe Hugo Duncan does a great wee set. Minister, will you outline what other funding avenues may be available to show organisers?”
“We want a future in which housing is a right, not a privilege that is dictated by economic disparity.”
“Local businesses falter during the off-peak season. Populations dwindle owing to the lack of affordable housing, so schools close, services vanish and the fabric of those communities frays. <BR /> <BR />The issues with social housing are not unique to our region, with Northern Ireland as a whole grappling with the same challenges, especially in the absence of a housing supply strategy. We would love to see one urgently. As we map the market and the need and analyse the numbers, it becomes clear that it is something on which we need to take action as quickly as we can. We cannot allow those communities to wither away. If young people are not able to grow up in their community and we continue to have more and more transient populations, there is nowhere left for people from those communities to go.”
“That is a staggering 163% increase in self-catering accommodation, and nearly 40% of it is in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. Of course, that is just the ones that are properly registered, because, as we know, there is a proliferation of such accommodation that is not registered. That is something that we hear anecdotally in the office about places in Ballintoy, Ballycastle and across the north coast. <BR /> <BR />The Department for the Economy's recent report recommends trying to regulate those short-term rentals and the online booking platforms in order to restore balance. We would welcome that. There has to be some kind of oversight of the percentage of homes that are either second homes or short-term rentals. The consequences of the crisis extend far beyond economics. Our communities are suffering, as I have said.”
“Our communities face a crisis that is perpetuating the cycle of outward migration to areas such as Ballymoney, Ballymena and even Belfast, although why would people choose to live in Belfast when they could live on the north coast? I think that that is the issue. <BR /> <BR />It does not get any easier for those who are unable to buy their own home. The rents that are charged to long-term tenants in the area are rising faster there than in any other region. The rise of Airbnb has exacerbated the situation, as we have said. If property owners can get up to eight times more for a short-term let than they can for a long-term rental, more and more of them will choose that, which underscores the urgency of the situation. According to the figures, 3,000 new self-catering units have been registered since 2019.”
“The knock-on effect of that is that there are more challenges to growing a family, between childcare issues and being able to raise a family without a close network nearby. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child, but we are losing that sense of community. <BR /> <BR />On top of all those issues, the average wage in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area is depressingly low when compared with the soaring property prices. The disparity is stark. The lowest average wage in Northern Ireland is found in Causeway Coast and Glens, while the highest average house price is also found in Causeway Coast and Glens.”
“We urge that action be taken to address the multifaceted nature of the crisis, particularly the unchecked growth of second homes, the detrimental impact of short-term rentals that appear on platforms such as Airbnb and the lack of affordable and social housing in the area. I will not go over the statistics that the Members who spoke before me, both of whom represent East Derry/Londonderry, outlined. The proliferation of second homes is not just a statistic but a force that is driving those astronomical levels, and it renders the dream of local residents to buy their own home completely inaccessible. I have spoken to constituents in my area who have had to move to Ballymena, Ballymoney or Coleraine just to get somewhere affordable to live.”
“I am obviously here as an MLA for North Antrim, but we share a council area and the pressure for housing on the north coast does not end at the boundary into Portballintrae. Something similar is happening in Bushmills, Ballintoy, Ballycastle and even on round into your constituency, Minister, in Cushendall, although I am taking back Cushendun in the next boundary changes. It is a common issue across the north coast, and there is an urgency about the debate. I hear about this so often in my constituency surgeries outside of the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council bit of the constituency, when we go into the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. What was a crisis of housing is now a real threat to the sustenance of the communities right along the coast.”
“<BR /> <BR />As we enter the busiest sporting week in North Antrim and on the north coast, I make it clear that North Antrim and Bushmills are still open for business. I was in the town yesterday. It is still busy, and you will see thousands of people flock to the north coast. We need to send the message that that event is not indicative of that community or of North Antrim. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I praise those who came to the aid of that young man, whether they were volunteers or those whose job it was to be there. I thank them, and I hope that the young man and those who experienced the significant trauma of that event will recover quickly.”
“I was there all day Friday with the community association visiting the community garden and touring some of the new developments on the main street, and all that I was met with was a warm community that is so focused on making lives better in Bushmills. <BR /> <BR />I have had contact from parents in the village who are really worried about how they tell their children about what is on the news and why their town is on the news. How do they stop the conversations that will, no doubt, happen in the playground this morning and the rest of this week? How do they protect another generation of children from the trauma that has happened in that village? Is this where we are? Is it where we want to be in 2024? It is time for those players to move off the stage. This is not wanted.”
“I rise to condemn the barbaric and horrific attack in Bushmills, in my constituency, on Saturday night/Sunday morning. There is simply no justification for that type of behaviour in 2024. We are 26 years post-Good Friday Agreement. The community is saying that enough is enough. A young man has been left with life-altering injuries. Tourists in a car park on a busy bank holiday weekend witnessed something significant and traumatic: our first responders from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) having to cut a man from a fence. The medical teams in the hospital had to deal with the aftermath, as did a close-knit and welcoming community.”
“There has been much debate over the past few days about recommended allocations, but can the Minister clarify whether any costed alternative proposals were made to her Department by any Minister in the Executive?”
“Following on from the question from Carál, how can community wealth building be utilised in rural areas, specifically in my constituency of North Antrim, to build economic resilience outside the more urban hubs?”
“Minister, are alternative measures being considered to address the needs of those who might be impacted if the benefit cap welfare supplementary payment is not extended?”
“In essence, fuel poverty subjects households to lethal coldness despite being absolutely preventable. That is the point that we want to make. We have to put money into some of those initiatives and there has to be a way that we can alleviate the problem with public spending. That money will then be saved across the board, both in the short term, when we look at the winter excess deaths, and in the longer term. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Members who tabled the motion for bringing the matter to the Chamber and not waiting until we got closer to winter to do so.”
“If we look at the cost of fuel poverty, in particular to our health service, we see that there is a clear correlation between excess winter deaths, inadequate thermal insulation in housing and low indoor temperatures. We see those deaths soar during the winter months, and they are directly associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and elevated blood pressure. <BR /> <BR />Mounting evidence suggests that children who reside in cold homes are over twice as likely to suffer from respiratory aliments compared with those in warmer environments. Cold exposure does not just exacerbate such existing conditions as well as arthritis and rheumatism, it heightens susceptibility to minor ailments. When you have the flu, not having a warm home to recuperate in turns it into something that is so much more dangerous.”
“With an estimated 45% of households in Northern Ireland experiencing some type of fuel poverty, including those who have never experienced fuel poverty before, it really is shocking that one in 10 households in Northern Ireland is compelled to skip meals to ensure that it has enough to pay for its energy bills. <BR /> <BR />One of the key factors that we have been looking into feeds back into that thought of having some form of audit of poverty and looking into the costs that are outlaid on our public services and our public spending. We could then look at how to offset some of those costs to try to invest to save. That is really what I am getting at.”
“I had a young mother who turns her oven on and opens the door and gets the kids to sit in the kitchen because she cannot afford a full oil tank because it is such an outlay in one go. I heard of nights where a much older couple would prefer to go bed with hot water bottles and extra blankets than sit up and waste, as they would say, the heating and the electricity to keep the lights on. The situation in 2024 is horrendous, especially in a country like ours. <BR /> <BR />This crisis is affecting the most vulnerable, forcing them into the absolutely impossible decision of whether to heat their homes or put food on the table. That has absolutely no place in a modern, compassionate society.”
“The crisis due to the cost of living and fuel poverty in Northern Ireland is one that I have seen consistently in my constituency office. After housing, it was the second most frequent issue that was brought to me over the winter months, and I pay tribute to the Bryson House initiative that my colleague Kellie Armstrong mentioned. Without that community and voluntary intervention, many, many more of my North Antrim constituents would have had a much colder winter, especially given the cessation of schemes like the affordable warmth scheme. <BR /> <BR />In my first winter as an MLA, I cannot deny how impactful it has been to see such a steady stream of people who are living with energy and fuel poverty issues.”
“That welfare supplementary payment would mitigate in full the penalising of third and subsequent children and put money back in the pocket of those who need it. Ideally, we would like to see that put in place alongside further recommendations from the mitigations review, such as the better start grant that would support families at pinch points in a child's life, and, as per Alliance policy, we would like to see an additional child payment to vulnerable households to allow for the best start to a child's life. <BR /> <BR />I will repeat what I said yesterday: regardless of the approach that we take, the question should be not how much this will cost to do but how much it will cost not to do.”
“Thank you, Minister. I appreciate the clarity on that. <BR /> <BR />We recognise the need for something urgent to happen. We know that we need to put money into the pockets of families as quickly as we can. As I said to the Member for North Belfast, this is a crisis. I ask the Minister to assess urgently the practical and fiscal implications of all options for IT and infrastructure and the cost of the mitigation. <BR /> <BR />In the same spirit, we welcome, in a lukewarm way, the amendment. We do not believe that this can wait for reporting on mitigation schemes. We absolutely want to see the adoption, not just the noting, of the independent advisory panel's recommendations in the welfare mitigations review, including, as was mentioned, the offsetting of the two-child limit by introducing the better start larger families payment.”
“While I agree that you made some reference to costings, the point was more about the infrastructure around removal before there is a change in legislation.”
“I heard some costings, but I did not hear from the Opposition what the implications of breaking parity — making that change — would be.”
“While we support the motion and I do not think, in good faith, that any of us would argue that penalising children for the size of their family is good policy and my colleagues Naomi Long and Stephen Farry have vociferously campaigned and voted against the policy at Westminster, we would like it to be noted that we are concerned about the cost implications of a blanket call for a removal of the two-child limit before that happens at Westminster and any legislation can be changed at that level. It would break parity with what is in place and therefore siphon already much-stretched finances into creating an IT system to deliver an alternative rather than into the pockets of families, where it is needed most.”
“It found that those who had larger families tended to have to care for their own children, citing barriers to childcare and logistics as some of the reasons why they are not economically active. Incidentally, this also links to the necessity for a fully resourced childcare strategy for Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />From an international perspective, none of the other developed countries that are members of the OECD limit the number of children eligible for means-tested family benefits; in fact, they increase with family size. We can be absolutely clear that this is not the type of policy that a developed country with the well-being of its citizens at heart should have in place.”
“Let us be clear: it is a policy that flies in the face of compassion, empathy and basic human decency, although those are not words that I would associate with the current Tory Government anyway, to be honest. <BR /> <BR />It is also clear that the policy exacerbates gender disparities, with women disproportionately affected due to their higher share of childcare responsibilities. Additionally, we cannot overlook the fact that, until recently, reproductive choice in Northern Ireland was greatly impacted, leaving women in extremely difficult circumstances when faced with an unplanned third or subsequent pregnancy. Comprehensive research by the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE) has shown that there is no evidence that it has increased employment, which was the initial justification.”
“We do not limit access to healthcare, education or public services by order of birth, so there is no justification for limiting access to social security, with £3,455 lost for each child born subsequent to the second, as recent figures have shown. The two-child benefit cap is a policy born out of callous disregard for the well-being of the most vulnerable people in society. It is penalising families for the number of children they have, punishing innocent children for circumstances far beyond their control and forcing women to disclose pregnancy as a result of rape. According to the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network, this represents 45,000 children in Northern Ireland. That is 45,000 children whom the Tory Government deem irrelevant when it comes to meeting their essential needs of food on the plate and a roof over their heads.”
“This debate has much synergy with the debate yesterday about child poverty, and I thank the Opposition for bringing it forward. The recent findings of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on child poverty and the Northern Ireland poverty and income inequality report have shone a light on a sobering reality. The rising number of children and families in Northern Ireland living in poverty is simply unacceptable, and we have agreed that. <BR /> <BR />The Audit Office report reveals that nearly half of children living in relative poverty come from families with three or more children. Those in larger families were already more vulnerable to deprivation even before this policy.”
“Does the Member agree that the rates of poverty and child poverty, particularly in his constituency, indicate that this is a crisis and that we cannot wait until the end of the financial year for that report? Does the Member agree that this needs to be brought forward with the utmost urgency, not just at the end of the financial year?”