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?”
The complete record
Every one of 1,013 lines we hold for Sian Mulholland, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 20 of 21.
“They are a key driver of economic success in Northern Ireland, contributing millions to our economy every year and employing over 3,500 people, yet the percentage of public funding that they receive is absolutely pitiful. The arts can be life-changing and, as I have seen with my own eyes, life-saving. <BR /> <BR />I am making a plea today to the Minister for Communities and the wider Executive to please give the arts a lifeline. Having had more than a decade of real-terms reductions in funding, it will be a death by a thousand cuts next time. A cut, no matter how small, will represent a huge swathe of shelved productions, artists moving elsewhere and a society bereft of those to tell their story.”
“Either that or they are moving across the border or across the water, where public expenditure on the arts massively dwarfs our pitiful offerings. Every Member in this Chamber will have heard those statistics. <BR /> <BR />Every time I reference the arts and arts funding on social media, I am met with, "But what about health? But what about social housing waiting lists? What about issues with our education system? Typical Alliance, focusing on the cushy arts". Let me be clear: this should not be an either/or endgame. The arts are not a hobby or a nice wee add-on to pass the time or even an interest solely of the middle classes any more.”
“However, as we celebrated World Art Day yesterday, that positivity was not felt right across the board in the arts sector. Notably, the Waterside Theatre announced its closure, with four staff being made redundant. It follows other production and theatre companies that have had to take similar action recently. For too long and too often, the arts sector has had to do too much for so little. Ironically — I am not being dramatic when I say this — we are on the precipice of the decimation of our arts sector. At last month's meeting of the all-party group on arts, we heard that artists with decades of experience are having to leave the sector because they cannot sustain both their families and their careers.”
“I rose in the Chamber a few weeks ago to congratulate local homegrown talent on their nominations for the BAFTAs and the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) awards. Just last night, actress Laura Donnelly, who, incidentally, studied drama and theatre studies at the very same drama department as I did — that is my tenuous link — was nominated for an Olivier award, having previously won that prestigious award. <BR /> <BR />I hope that many were glued to the BBC last night, as I was, for the return of the amazing 'Blue Lights'. From Ballymena man Declan Lawn, the writer and producer, to Hannah McClean playing Jen, to the exceptional performance by Cushendun man Seamus O'Hara as Lee, the links to my constituency of North Antrim are strong, as Annie would say.”
“<BR /> <BR />It would be as a result of working on each piece of that interconnected jigsaw puzzle of services and policies that we could build a brighter future for all children. There will not be a Member in the Chamber who will disagree that any investment in children's long-term future can only benefit us all as a society, but it needs to be done in a holistic and cross-departmental manner.”
“Whilst they provide crucial support to families in need, they do not address the root causes of poverty. They are just one way of easing an imminent threat. <BR /> <BR />That is why we understand that poverty cannot be tackled by addressing just one facet. We have to push for that cross-departmental commitment to eradicating poverty; addressing a social security system that is simply not fit for purpose; developing affordable and social housing solutions; investing in education and skills development and in early years and child care; ensuring timely and universal access to healthcare services; extending access to nutritious meals in schools; and investing in our community and voluntary sector, which is already on the ground dealing with families, and its support services.”
“Whilst we cannot provide exact figures, on the basis of those categories, Advice NI estimates that at least 2,240 children will be immediately impacted if we do not extend the current mitigation regulations. Furthermore, some of those families do not even know that they are in receipt of mitigations and are therefore not prepared at all for the impending cliff edge. <BR /> <BR />I call on the Minister for Communities, along with Executive colleagues, as we look towards budgets for the next year — hopefully, multi-year budgets after that — to act immediately to avert the looming cliff edge in the welfare mitigation schemes, particularly that benefit cap mitigation. In saying that, we recognise that those mitigations are not a cure-all. They are a temporary solution to a systemic problem that needs a more comprehensive approach.”
“A strategy must also address an immediate and pressing issue that will have significant implications for families, so we need to talk about the benefit cap mitigations cliff edge. It all plays a part. The significance of the mitigations must not be understated. They were put in place to offer essential support for absolute necessities such as housing, food or utilities. The adverse effects of the Tory benefit cap policy have been recognised, and steps have been taken, but we absolutely need to have something in place for the cliff edge next year. <BR /> <BR />Recent statistics from NISRA on the benefit cap reports in Northern Ireland break down the number of children living in households receiving benefit cap mitigations.”
“We must also ensure that adequate resources are allocated to them. I am acutely aware of the financial burden on the Executive. I know that all Departments have urgent priorities, but, right now, the question that we will continue to ask the Minister is not how much this will cost but how much it would cost not to do. The long-term economic and social costs of allowing rates of child poverty to continue to rise are stark. They are estimated to be between £825 million and £1 billion a year. <BR /> <BR />I urge the Minister to collaborate closely with the Minister of Finance to secure an ambitious budget dedicated solely to achieving the poverty reduction targets. We cannot compromise any longer on the eradication of poverty.”
“That is why we are calling for specific and measurable targets to be established within an anti-poverty strategy: targets that translate into tangible outcomes for children; actions that employ cross-departmental intervention; and prevention strategies that work collaboratively to break the cycle of poverty and forge a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive. <BR /> <BR />Just as crucially, we need rigorous monitoring mechanisms to track the progress of any anti-poverty strategy. It cannot be another document to languish on a shelf. Regular data collection, reporting and analysis across all impacted Departments and services will enable us to identify areas of success and areas where we need to improve. However, we know that merely setting targets is not enough.”
“A broader anti-poverty strategy can provide support to entire families. That approach recognises that improving the economic stability of parents can positively impact on children's well-being. By combining efforts to combat poverty across various demographics, we can push for a joined-up approach to have policy coherence and, hopefully, mitigate the fragmentation and siloism that we so often see. <BR /> <BR />I hope that budgetary elements, too, will allow for a better coordination of resources and services, maximising their impact on reducing poverty, thereby ultimately improving outcomes for children.”
“<BR /> <BR />We tabled the amendment, which removes the reference to a specific child poverty strategy, because, as we have heard from campaigners, we need to have a holistic approach that addresses poverty comprehensively, including by considering the multifaceted factors that contribute to the measures of poverty. That includes addressing issues such as unemployment and support for work-limited parents; housing affordability; healthcare access; and education. Those all impact families and children. Children do not exist in silos, and, as such, we should not address such an interconnected issue with a singular frame of reference. Poverty often has a multigenerational element, so by tackling poverty across all demographics, we will ensure that our interventions are comprehensive and will break the cycle of poverty more effectively.”
“As I said, we can be so desensitized to those statistics because we hear them so often, but behind each of those statistics lies a child whose potential is stifled by the chains of the poverty that they live in. Colleagues and I have not been silent about the need for the Minister for Communities to take decisive action. That has to be effective action that will impact families most quickly and in the most useful way. We want to see tackling poverty and deprivation underpinned in any future Programme for Government. We want the implementation of an integrated and cross-departmental poverty strategy to be presented to the Assembly without delay. We will continue to put pressure on the Minister to do that. There is a statutory obligation, which all parties signed up to previously, that just is not being met.”
“Children whose basic needs are not being met are going to school hungry and to bed hungry. Their parents have to make heartbreaking decisions that no parent should ever have to make. I am thankful that, because of my privilege, I do not have to make those decisions. It is a distressing fact that, in 2024, that is the reality for more than 100,000 young people in our communities. <BR /> <BR />The void of governance that was created when the Assembly was down has only exacerbated an already inexcusable situation. We have talked about many priorities since the Assembly's restoration. Lifting families out of poverty should be at the top of that list. A rising tide lifts all boats, and there can be none more in need of lifting from a life of poverty than the more than 100,000 children.”
“The Northern Ireland poverty and income inequality report that the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) released two weeks ago paints an even bleaker picture. It states that the percentage of children who are in relative poverty before housing costs are included has risen to 24%. That is approximately 109,000 children, which is a significant increase from 18% the year before. The number of children who are living in absolute poverty, according to that NISRA report, has increased to 19%, which is approximately 86,000 children. That is up from 15% the year before. The simple fact is that the number of children who are growing up in poverty here is rising. We are bombarded with statistics in the Chamber, but I had to stop for a moment to let that one sink in.”
“Apologies; I thought that we did that already. I thank the Member who moved the motion. Child poverty strikes at the very core of our society. There will not be a single MLA in the Chamber who has not, in their constituency office, dealt with the ramifications of poverty. We know that those who are most vulnerable to the effects and impacts of poverty are the children who are growing up in homes that experience poverty. <BR /> <BR />The revelations in the recent Northern Ireland Audit Office report are stomach-turning: one in every five children is living in relative poverty. For the benefit of the Member who asked about this, relative poverty is classed as being below 60% of the median of a year, with absolute being 60% of a baseline, which, I think, was 2010-11. However, I imagine that the Member is aware of that.”
“Apologies. I beg to move the following amendment:”
“I thank the Member who moved the motion. We know that the issue strikes at the very core of our society. There will not be a single MLA in the Chamber today who has not, in their constituency office, dealt with the ramifications of poverty.”
“I associate myself with my colleague's thanks, Minister, for how quickly you have taken the issue on board. I note that you have been working closely with Executive Ministers, including the Minister of Finance. There will obviously be a resource requirement for your Department. Has a budget or any expenditure been discussed with the Minister of Finance?”
“Only then can we truly claim to live in a just and equitable society. We already see the cost of inaction in our poverty statistics, and that is to our shame.”
“I call on the Education Minister to act swiftly and decisively. We need a comprehensive plan to end holiday hunger once and for all. It must include measures to reinstate and bolster the school holiday food grant scheme and urgently progress and publish the review of the eligibility criteria for free school meals, ensuring that no child is left behind. <BR /> <BR />Additionally, we must explore innovative solutions to address the root causes of poverty and food insecurity, working collaboratively with all stakeholders, be they community organisations, businesses or anyone and everyone who has a part to play. This is one element of a larger picture. We have to push services and Departments to work together to build a future where poverty is no longer a barrier to our young people flourishing and thriving.”
“When a significant proportion of our population is held back by poverty, we all suffer consequences, whether it is reduced productivity, an increased drain on public services or heightened levels of inequality. The estimated annual costs of child poverty are up to £1 billion.”
“There is a 24% GCSE attainment gap for children who receive free school meals. <BR /> <BR />The recent cut to the school holiday food grant has exacerbated an already dire situation. The cut has hit the most vulnerable and the most disadvantaged, leaving them without access to the meals that they so desperately need. Poverty and educational underachievement are clearly intertwined; the research is there. The removal of vital support schemes only deepens those disparities. The repercussions of child poverty extend so far beyond just the immediate suffering of those who are directly impacted; they reverberate through our society, undermining social cohesion and economic progress.”
“I could not agree more. That was the point that I was making about children not existing in silos. We cannot play politics with the issue. It has to be cross-party, cross-departmental and cross-service. There needs to be a holistic approach to protecting our children from this hunger. I thank the Member for his intervention, because this is not just hyperbole. The statistics make the case for us. Providing a nutritious meal for children is not just sustenance; it is the fuel that powers their development. By the age of three, children from low-income families have heard, on average, 30 million fewer words and have half the vocabulary of children from higher-income families. Children who receive free school meals are two times more likely than their more affluent peers to leave school with no GCSEs.”
“<BR /> <BR />We need to address the reality that children do not exist in silos. We need a joined-up approach to their well-being that factors in their educational, social and health needs. Whilst the motion is directed to the Minister of Education, I also call on the Minister for Communities to act now and to publish an anti-poverty strategy that is fully holistic and factors in input from all Departments. The lack of an anti-poverty strategy in Northern Ireland strikes at the heart of our values and our sense of justice. We cannot ignore the human cost of poverty. It manifests in children going to bed hungry and families facing impossible choices, as we have heard, between heating their home or putting food on the table.”
“The statistics are stark: 18% of Northern Irish children live in relative poverty before housing costs; and 8% of children live in persistent poverty. Over 35,000 emergency food parcels that the Trussell Trust delivered in Northern Ireland in 2022-23 were for children. In my constituency, the Mid and East Antrim Community Hub, through its affordable food club, has delivered hundreds and hundreds of food parcels to children, but that funding has now ended and there is no replacement in sight for the next school holiday. The Trussell Trust also highlights the fact that food banks in Northern Ireland have seen the greatest long-term increase of any region and that one fifth of those who use food banks are from a working household. It is no coincidence that we are the only nation without an anti-poverty strategy.”
“Thank you, Madam Deputy Principal Speaker. Did I get that right? Is that the right order? <BR /> <BR />Today we address an urgent issue that affects the very fabric of our society: children going hungry. It is a travesty that, in our supposedly advanced society, children and young people in Northern Ireland are still going hungry during school holidays. The Assembly must recognise the severity of the issue and take decisive action to end it now. We have made significant strides here towards peace and prosperity, yet, underneath the surface, there is a stark reality that we cannot afford to ignore. Poverty continues to cast a long shadow over the life of children and young people, depriving them of dignity and the opportunities that they deserve.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are nominations for Kenneth Branagh for best supporting actor in a film; Derry's own Bronagh Gallagher for best supporting actress in a film; and the directors of 'An Irish Goodbye'. If you have not seen it, please do. Robbie has left the Chamber, but that was our Oscar winner. They have been nominated for their new film, 'The Golden West'. <BR /> <BR />As we can see, those nominations not only celebrate individual achievements but highlight our rich cultural landscape and the growing influence of the Northern Irish arts industry.If we can achieve that with a real-term cut in arts funding, imagine what we could achieve with a fully resourced and fully funded arts sector. I pay tribute to all those who have been nominated.”
“I rise in response to the nominations for the Irish Film and Television Academy awards. There has been such a remarkable surge in talent in the Northern Irish arts scene. That is underscored by the region's burgeoning talent and vibrant creative community. From captivating films to compelling TV productions, Northern Irish artists are making their mark on the national and international stage. <BR /> <BR />I pay particular tribute to 'Blue Lights' creators, Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson. I do not know whether anybody has watched it. There is a great deal of excitement for the new series, a preview of which, coincidentally, is playing, in a few weeks' time, in the Braid, back home in Ballymena. Well done to them: four nominations in the top four categories.”
“On that mitigation, we face a cliff edge when we come to 2025. Can the Minister outline any plans to work against that and put in place support for people who might face that cliff edge?”
“Some councillors were told on Monday, getting less than 48 hours to put in place alternative arrangements to be present in the chamber for all meetings in March. That shows little consideration for those who have caring responsibilities or legitimate reasons for requesting a hybrid alternative. I have great respect for the Minister for Communities, and I look forward to working with him and seeing what he can achieve in this mandate. However, with due respect, that is the wrong decision, and it will only further alienate those whose voices we need to hear more of in local government.”
“I spoke to a councillor with a neurodivergent condition who knows that, when an urgent oral update is on the agenda, it is better for them to stay at home with their noise-cancelling headphones on so that they can concentrate on what is being said without any written papers in front of them and without any distractions. <BR /> <BR />At a time when we should be encouraging more people from disenfranchised communities to engage in our political system, we are effectively putting a barrier in the way of those with caring responsibilities, young families, conditions or illnesses and those who live in rural communities. <BR /> <BR />The decision was communicated to council chief executives on Friday.”
“I found it much easier to balance my full engagement in council meetings while juggling a young baby and a toddler. When my father was ill, I was able to dial into meetings from his home, and, on one occasion, with headphones from his hospital room while he slept. As someone living in a rural community, when there were weather warnings, I was able to choose to stay at home and dial into committee meetings. At no point was I a less effective councillor because I was engaging online. I spoke to councillors last night who have caring responsibilities, and they are really worried about the lack of consultation on this.”
“I am dismayed at the decision that has been made by the Communities Minister not to put forward an extension to the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Provisions Relating to Local Authority Meetings) (No 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2022, which allowed hybrid meetings in our councils, while simultaneously not putting forward a proposal, thereby pre-empting the consultation, to lay any stand-alone legislation. <BR /> <BR />At the Communities Committee on 22 February, we agreed to approve the recommendation of extensions to the Assembly while the Minister was considering going forward with stand-alone legislation, only to have that extension pulled with no notice. Before I came to this place, I benefited many times from that legislation as a local councillor. My second son was born in 2019 and was five months old when the pandemic hit.”
“One mechanism for the protection of at-risk young people is the use of the national referral mechanism. Figures that came out last week showed that there were 530 referrals in the past year. Does the Minister agree that we need to work more with our health service cohort to raise awareness of the national referral mechanism as a mechanism to protect children who are in danger of criminal child exploitation? The health service could utilise it more.”
“A national diabetes audit was announced in 2016 along with the diabetes strategic framework. It has yet to be carried out. Will you commit to establishing a diabetes audit in this mandate?”
“Those children will not simply present themselves with those additional needs on their first day of school, so why do we have a system that waits until that point of entry to address their need and adequately plan for their education journey? We need to move forward urgently, ahead of the school year, so that we do not see a repeat of the shameful scenes last September, with our most vulnerable children not having a plan for their educational journey in place for their first day, their first week or even their first month. We need a joined-up approach that is adequately funded across Departments and stakeholders and is ready to deliver the right support at the right time for the children and young people who need it most.”
“Without investment, we cannot address those workforce pressures, and that will not address the obvious urgent need. <BR /> <BR />Another essential cohort in that joined-up approach are those in the early years sector. Proposals to expand or improve early years services will have immediate cost implications — that is true — but the long-term consequences will be financially positive. We want to see funding for early years and the support systems that that sector provides to be adequate, strategic and seen as a long-term investment. <BR /> <BR />In Northern Ireland, 18·7% of children are recorded as having special or additional needs, and 6·8% have statements.”
“<BR /> <BR />Once the issue is raised, it should not be a postcode lottery for children and families as to whether they have access to early intervention developmental services, but, unfortunately, that is exactly what is faced, given the inconsistency of the services that are delivered across trusts and, indeed, education areas. The independent review of education also acknowledges clearly the role of speech and language therapists in addressing developmental issues. There is a widening gap between capacity and demand. It is a vital service, with early intervention through speech and language therapy (SLT) potentially helping to prevent or resolve problems that could emerge later in life, yet there are huge numbers of vacancies in those key roles.”
“Although it is an education motion, it is not just an issue to be addressed by the Department of Education. In the light of the need for early intervention, we cannot overstate the importance of a joined-up approach from all those who have cause to be engaged with families and children from birth; the key cohort partner here being health visitors. Health visitation is an absolute priority in the early years service, with its reach and impact extending well beyond Health and its remit. Concerns can be raised at those key points in a child's development. Whether that is at a one-year, two-year or preschool review or at points of contact in between, health visitors are the perfect people to instigate early intervention, but it must be joined up and well communicated with the education system.”
“No parent should have to fight for their child's right to access such a vital component of their development needs.”
“There is significant research evidence on the importance of early interventions in the earliest of years. Prevention is better than cure, as they say, but investment so far has failed to match that rhetoric. Investment in prevention and early intervention makes sound economic sense, with well-documented and robust returns on investment felt right across society in every shape and form. The investment in early life interventions can be offset by the potential savings in terms of reduced need for late intervention. It is clear that the earlier we intervene, the better the outcomes. That is particularly important for children with special educational needs and disabilities. We cannot and absolutely should not wait until a child reaches preschool or primary school to begin planning for their education journey.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Did I get that right? <BR /> <BR />First of all, before I begin my speech, I pass on my condolences and those of my party to Cathy, who shared her personal story of loss. <BR /> <BR />In speaking on this important motion, I thank my colleague and my party's education spokesperson, Nick Mathison, whose passion for this issue was evident this afternoon in his opening speech. <BR /> <BR />I want to speak about the importance of early intervention and planning in the support and nurturing of children with additional needs in their education journey. Early detection of need and early intervention are critical in ensuring that our children receive the support that they require to succeed and thrive in life.”
“We need to address attitudinal change from an early age, we need tangible outcomes, we need targets that are experience led and intersectional, and we need to deliver it all with the utmost urgency because women are paying the price with their lives.”
“We have also seen initiatives, such as Ask for Angela, which nightclubs and bars have signed up to, and Hospitality Ulster signing up to the Women's Night Safety Charter, something that I championed in the arts sector. Those and other societal approaches to protecting women in social spaces, challenging dangerous norms and, ultimately, preventing violence against women and girls are so important. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, this is an issue that impacts women and girls in every aspect of their lives. It is imperative that central to every strategy is the desire and cooperation to work using a joined-up approach. If we make this place safer for all women, we will create a society that is safer for all.”
“The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive, age-appropriate relationships and sexuality education in schools, because by equipping all young people, regardless of their gender, with knowledge about healthy relationships, consent, gender equality and respect, we can foster a generation that is confident and has the tools at their disposal to challenge harmful stereotypes and nip in the bud those questionable approaches to women and girls. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that this is not just a women's problem; this is a societal problem, and boys and men need to be included in the solution. The key aspects required for the strategic framework delivery to be effective are that it must be cross-departmental, multidisciplinary and involve stakeholders from the statutory, private and voluntary sectors.”
“<BR /> <BR />Reports have pointed out that parents and carers feel that it is now simply impossible to keep their children safe in online spaces due to the lack of appropriate protections against acts of violence and inappropriate sexualised behaviour. Like most behavioural and attitudinal changes, early intervention and age-appropriate education programmes, like those outlined by Mrs Dillon, are effective tools to create the catalyst for long-term societal change. <BR /> <BR />Seven in 10 young female respondents demonstrated their commitment to combating sexism by being willing to intervene when their peers made sexual or sexist jokes. That 69% figure significantly outstrips the 30% of young male respondents who expressed a similar inclination.”
“How perverse is that? As highlighted in that report and many others, more needs to be done to hold the social media companies to account. It is not good enough to abdicate responsibility for the safety of your clients just because you are not curating a physical space. That includes but is not limited to — some have been mentioned before — dealing with the AI generation of deepfake pornographic material, being quicker to delete offensive material that has been reported, blocking the IP addresses of accounts with multiple violations so they cannot simply create yet another account immediately, and having an easily contactable department that responds immediately to serious complaints of abuse.”
“It was by far the most prominent form of gender-based violence experienced by the young women who responded to the survey. The type of violence most experienced by young men was in the physical form. It is clear from the statistics that young women often experience a type of violent behaviour that pervades so much more than a physical act and cannot easily be avoided. It is evident that online spaces, particularly social media networks, are simply not safe spaces for young women and girls. <BR /> <BR />Worryingly, in the 'It’s just what happens' report, young women indicated that they considered receiving unsolicited sexual imagery and advances as just:”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am grateful to the proposers of the motion for bringing it to the Assembly. As others have said, it is a shameful reality that this is statistically the most dangerous place for women in Europe. However, it is not just the most serious of crimes that makes it such a dangerous place to be a woman; we have to factor in the interconnected continuum of violence, from everyday misogynistic attitudes and damaging social norms to harmful and unwanted behaviours. <BR /> <BR />As mentioned earlier, in the 'Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: Experiences and Attitudes of 16 year olds in Northern Ireland in 2023' report, one third of sixteen-year-old girls said that they had experienced online violence in the past year.”