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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“Northern Ireland is actually predicted to make a net saving by the fourth carbon budget. Is that not worth continuing to strive for, if we can actually start to make a net saving? The reality is that the climate change actions are a spend-to-save exercise. We cannot afford, on so many levels, to walk back from those targets, not just financially but for our society. <BR /> <BR />I am not sure that I would go quite as far as Mr Carroll in saying that half of the properties will be underwater. That is perhaps a doomsday position, but there is some risk there, and, as someone who lives on the coast, even more for me. For us, the target is not an abstract number.”
“My party and I believe in setting ambitious targets and ambitious goals because, if we do fall short, we are still moving forward. That is the point. If we inspire effort, we drive progress and achieve so much more than we would by playing it safe. You are shaking your head, but it is the same thing with child poverty. We talk about the risk of missing targets. Why not aim for more? Why not aim for ambitious targets and actually achieve more than just playing it as we have always played it? <BR /> <BR />In reference to Mrs Cameron's comments about the climate action plan financial assessment, there is an overall neutral financial impact from the policies and proposals that are outlined in the draft climate change plan; that is anticipated, so an overall positive and social economic impact with minor effects is to be expected.”
“The Housing Executive and the housing associations have trialled retrofits, and with proper insulation, airtight seals, triple glazing, air source heat pumps and solar PV, tenants have seen their bills fall. Scaling that across the province will not only cut our bills and emissions but will create good local jobs, joined-up government and fairness for every constituent, no matter where they live. <BR /> <BR />I want to make a couple of references to the Climate Change Act. Yes, it sets binding targets, but, unfortunately, we cannot move away from those ambitious targets — we simply cannot. As David Honeyford said, they are ambitious targets for a reason. The Minister has said in the past that he would rather avoid targets than risk missing them.”
“Fabric improvements and low-temperature, continuous heating can reduce the damp and mould that Mr Durkin referred to. However, if improvements are not rolled out on a wider scale, it will end up costing the public purse in the long run. Cold homes mean more pressure on health and social care services, and while that scale of improvement is not within the gift of the Minister's Department, it is in the gift of the Assembly with joined-up-working approaches. <BR /> <BR />As Kellie highlighted, the upfront investment in better standards is not just a luxury; it is a necessity that pays for itself many times over in lower bills and better health outcomes overall. We know what works.”
“I look forward to hearing more about the Minister's warm healthy homes scheme at Committee, and how ambitious it is. I hope that a tangible impact will be seen by those who need that intervention the most. <BR /> <BR />The human impact of all this is measurable. Where I come from, I always try to bring the human element of things to everything that we talk about, because, at the end of the day, it is the people we represent who matter the most. Warmer energy-efficient homes are linked to better physical health and better mental health, especially for vulnerable households. Local retrofit evaluations show upgrades that keep average indoor temperatures at around 21°C, cutting energy bills by about one third and reducing household emissions by about two thirds.”
“There is no laughter from where I am sitting, but that is fine. Thank you. <BR /> <BR />It is the poverty premium: the people with the least pay more and have the least secure form of heat. <BR /> <BR />The second rural issue is bricks and mortar. Rural dwellings are typically older, larger and far less energy efficient than their urban counterparts. Only a small fraction of rural social homes achieve the top EPC ratings. The motion rightly recognises the link between poor insulation, rising energy costs and fuel poverty. In rural constituencies such as mine, that link is painfully clear. The redesign of social homes has to be about not just bricks and mortar but fairness; the ambition and innovation that we talked about; and delivering the most affordable warmth to those who need it most.”
“Unlike gas or electricity, where you can spread the payments, perhaps monthly via a bill or on a metre, oil usually has to be bought up front and with a minimum order. The costs per litre of the smallest drum or in emergency top-ups are so much higher, and those often come with call-out fees. On top of that, prices swing with the global markets. As Mr Durkan commented, there is no social tariff for heating oil. There is no way to smooth those costs through a metre and no effective price cap. That is the very essence of a poverty premium.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I start by echoing the points made earlier, especially by my colleagues, that this is about fairness, social justice, value and the urgent need for leadership and co-working. <BR /> <BR />Before I wind up on the debate, I will address a specific point as a representative for North Antrim, which is one of the region's most rural constituencies. I see the reality of energy costs every week. Rural households face a double burden. The first burden is the fuel type. Nearly half the homes in Northern Ireland heat with oil, which is a far cry from the position in Great Britain. However, in rural areas, that figure is typically four in five homes. If they are off the gas grid, families have to rely on oil; there is no other option.”
“When it comes to working with other agencies, particularly in emergency situations, what role do councils play? What engagement do the Minister and the Department have when situations such as those that we have seen over the past few months occur?”
“Minister, we all know the budgetary constraints that you operate under. In my communication with you on this particular case, I outlined some things and some changes that could be put in place that will not require capital. Is your Department considering those at this time?”
“Until that unit opens, we need to do everything that we can to make our existing wards kinder, safer and truly perinatal-ready, so that no mother is ever again asked to recover whilst apart from her baby.”
“For example, a dedicated warded space within mental health services where postpartum mothers are not treated as an inconvenience; routine — not rationed — visits with babies; safe, private space for feeding and family contact; baby-friendly facilities embedded in the ward environment; proper breastfeeding support on wards; a single point of contact for every mother to coordinate that care and reduce anxiety; and data that counts what matters. Postpartum admissions have to be recorded. They have to be reported so that services can plan and measure progress. Standardised reporting and recording within and across trusts are key to building up a full picture. <BR /> <BR />The motion is more about giving frightened new mothers the care that helps them heal and giving a tiny baby the secure bond that shapes a lifetime.”
“<BR /> <BR />As things stand in Northern Ireland, if a mother becomes severely unwell after birth, she is likely to be admitted to a general psychiatric ward without her baby. The case for an MBU has been well established. It is evidence-based care. There has been progress, with all five health trusts now having a specialist community perinatal mental health team in place. That is a foundation that we should welcome, but mothers in crisis cannot wait for a capital project alone. <BR /> <BR />Minister, from Laura's experience, the measures that they need are practical and potentially life-saving, and not all of them cost money.”
“<BR /> <BR />The physical recovery expected after birth, such as having access to a bath to help with healing and cleaning, a bin to dispose of used maternity pads and a clean space to change, became just a series of indignities, but Laura said that the hardest part of being separated from her baby was that it directly harmed her recovery. She struggled to build an emotional connection and learn the day-to-day skills of caring for her newborn. She felt that she did not know her daughter at all and that she was not fit to be her mother. At her lowest, she even considered giving up her parental rights. That is the very opposite of what is needed to help new mums with mental health issues. Those little babies need their mums, but mums also need their babies, especially during that time.”
“Breastfeeding became an exhausting obstacle course. She had a lack of access to sterile pumps, no proper storage and no process for accessing basic equipment. At one point, Laura was sterilising her own kit in a staff microwave, albeit whilst being supervised. She had to call the trust breastfeeding support team herself to get help during visiting hours. She was given the wrong supplements, or her supplements were forgotten on medication rounds, because they just did not think of the postpartum supplements that a mother needs.”
“Visits with her baby were supervised, limited to one hour and sporadic; they were not routine. That is not how to help a mother bond with her child, especially a mother who is in the grip of a mental health crisis.”
“So many teams were involved that it was often unclear who was responsible for the decision-making, who could authorise visits and who could tell Laura whether she could take a short walk outside.”
“<BR /> <BR />Addressing perinatal mental health is not just about adequate medical care; it is about ensuring that mothers and their babies receive compassionate, comprehensive support during such a vulnerable time, and there has to be equity with what is available in other regions. <BR /> <BR />The motion is simple, humane and about human beings, so I will ground my contribution to the debate in lived experience, about which I have already engaged with the Minister. I have a constituent called Laura who gave birth to a healthy baby girl in February 2023. Two days later, she was detained to a general psychiatric ward. She would not spend a full night at home with her daughter for over seven weeks. On the ward, communication was fragmented.”
“It is lovely to hear a nod to how motherhood can be joyful and fulfilling. That sometimes gets lost in these discussions. I thank Ms Flynn for recognising it. <BR /> <BR />I speak as a mummy of three, who was one of the one in five, and also as an MLA for North Antrim, where too many mothers face this time with fear rather than joy because specialist help is either too far away, too hard to reach or simply not there at all. In February 2024, I used my maiden speech in the House to highlight the lack of an MBU; in May 2024, I highlighted the issue of perinatal mental health during Mental Health Awareness Week; and, in March 2025, I engaged with the Minister about this very issue. Therefore, I look forward to hearing what has changed and what improvements have been made.”
“Minister, given that there is evidence that community-led employability schemes have comparable costs and sometimes achieve higher retention, some people have implored us not to establish stand-alone government or statutory schemes but instead to scale up the voluntary and community sector-led employability delivery around the existing models that you have in your Department. Have you considered allocating new employability funding through existing voluntary and community sector networks, rather than developing new government-led schemes?”
“Thank you very much, Minister; we welcome the announcement of the consultation. You spoke about supporting and enabling employers to take on more staff with disabilities. That is really important. How will that work align with the Department for the Economy's skills strategy and employer engagement programmes so that businesses receive coherent and joined-up support rather than a patchwork of schemes? What conversations have been ongoing with the Minister for the Economy and the Department for the Economy about embedding disability inclusion? Have you put in any joint bids for the multi-year funding?”
“Something that would greatly improve the services in Mid Ulster and across the Northern Trust area is the construction of Birch Hill Centre for Mental Health in the Northern Trust. Can the Minister give us an update on the funding position for that or the timeline for that mental health provision in the Northern Trust?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I am interested in the local economic impact that the fund may have. I am particularly interested in the reference that was made to the benefits for local SMEs and tradespeople. How will the Department monitor whether contracts are awarded locally? Will there be safeguards in place to ensure that individual tradespeople and smaller companies will be able to compete fairly with the larger companies that we so often see tender for such work?”
“Does the Minister agree, then, that it would be wrong for Ministers to use their position when they do not get what they want, perhaps by stepping down, resigning, going on strike and not doing their role, as that might also erode public confidence?”
“That we do not agree with the strike action. I think that that is pretty clear.”
“I am delighted to get up to clarify something. The Minister asked, and I will answer. I have already said so, and my party has been on record to say that. Does the Minister agree with me that, in a ministerial position —.”
“that is Mr Dáithí and the smiley wee face that I sometimes see in Ballycastle when he is up for his holidays. He is a little boy who has used the toughest of circumstances to change the world around him. This week, please have that conversation with your families.”
“I agree with every word. <BR /> <BR />I also take the opportunity to pay tribute to an fear beag cróga”
“That culture shift is precious. He reminds us of the humanity behind it all and the human heart of the work. He said of donors and their families that:”
“Máirtín also put it really perfectly when he said:”
“Normally, when we look at statistics across these islands, we see that Northern Ireland is usually lagging behind but not this time. That is testament to Dáithí's law. It is making a difference. Máirtín, his daddy, said that Dáithí's law is already playing a role in saving people's lives, but there is more to do. He is right, because, while deemed consent helps, families still need to be part of that discussion. They are far more likely to say yes when they know and have had that conversation with their loved one about what they wanted. Therefore, I take the opportunity today to beg people to please register, tell your family, have that conversation and leave them certain of your wishes. <BR /> <BR />For families, losing a loved one is already a really torturous time, and leaving them with one less thing to worry about can help.”
“That really hits home for me when I think about my family and my wee ones. The truth is that any of us in the Chamber could need a transplant at some point. <BR /> <BR />In Northern Ireland, our waiting list has risen to 163 people. Last year, 44 deceased donors enabled 123 transplants, and 68 living donors stepped up, including one of our civil servants who work alongside the Communities Committee this year. However, eight people in Northern Ireland died while still waiting. Those are eight funerals that I would rather had not happened, and I am sure that we all feel the same. <BR /> <BR />That said, there is a lot that we can be proud of. Ninety per cent of people here support organ donation, and 59% of us are on the register. That is the highest in the UK.”
“I will talk about organ donation, given that it is Organ Donation Week. It is life-changing. It is an act of generosity that can be tinged with joy and grief, depending on the circumstances. <BR /> <BR />Across the UK, 8,000 people are waiting for a transplant, and 276 of them are children. However, only 1% of deaths happen in circumstances that could even allow donation. As Anthony Clarkson from NHS Blood and Transplant put it:”
“Thank you, Minister. I am sure that this was a really distressing time, particularly for the people whose information was leaked. Official error overpayments on universal credit rose by 31% last year. Will you commit to publishing open, transparent error data, given that this was individual error?”
“Minister, we have a target in the Climate Change Act to achieve 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. How important is offshore energy to our meeting that target? How likely is it that your Department will achieve it?”
“I know that, in North Antrim, that is absolutely not the case, and that is the society that we should be building together.”
“We are seeing the long-term damage in fractured communities. <BR /> <BR />Supporting the motion is not just a partisan choice; it is a moral necessity. No other mother should have to hide in an attic to save her children from a lynch mob. No other neighbour should be driven out under the cover of darkness because they are really frightened that their car was the first thing to be set on fire but are now afraid that it will be their house. Sectarianism and racism have scarred this place for long enough, and the vast majority of people, including those who contacted me, just want to live and let live in peace and respect. It is time for those voices to prevail. Social media makes it very easy for us to think that the louder voices dominate our society.”
“That is exactly what is happening again. <BR /> <BR />We are looking, in the broader housing crisis, at nearly 50,000 households that are on a waiting list and nearly 37,000 people who are in housing stress. That was not created by newcomers or immigrant families; it is a direct result of inaction and a lack of investment not just in housing but in our infrastructure and our waste water management. It is also a result of the years during which the Assembly was collapsed, and we have to admit that. When there is no leadership to push change forward, the result is what we are now seeing. That neglect has left us with a broken housing system. The price of delay is always higher than the price of action, whether that be for policing costs, NHS care or the schools that have to invest in more counselling for traumatised children.”
“People walk past doors that have flags or little posters that denote the nationality of the people living inside, who hope that that will protect their property. The Education Minister confirmed to me that, in the aftermath, 84 pupils at one primary school did not return. That was not just absence; that was trauma. The legacy of those nights is not just wrecked buildings but wrecked childhoods. Unless we break that cycle, another generation will carry that trauma, not to mention those who are being encouraged to get involved in the violence that will then end up wrecking their childhood. I was a youth worker in east Belfast during the flag protests of 2012, and I will never forget a young person saying:”
“Thank you. <BR /> <BR />Absolutely. Another issue that I want to be very clear on, regarding those who commit crimes in our community, is that we have a justice system for a reason. The vigilantes and the attacks that we saw in my constituency under the guise of protection do nothing to protect our communities; they just perpetuate more trauma and more harm. <BR /> <BR />The motion is about community safety. It is about investing in our communities. It is about having the kind of society where everyone, regardless of skin colour, background or whatever, feels safe, welcome and at home. In my constituency, the impact of the attacks is not just abstract. Children walk past burnt-out cars. People walk to school or work the next morning past horrendous graffiti.”
“I want to be really clear that that is not what this is about. We can talk about the concerns that communities have without ever going down the route that those attacks were legitimate. There is nothing legitimate about targeting a house specifically and solely because of the nationality, race or religious background of the occupant. It is OK for us to say that.”
“We call in the motion for a refreshed good relations strategy to tackle sectarianism and racism, but that needs to be targeted, realistic, resourced and delivered across all Departments, because, as people do not exist in silos, we should not design social policy in silos. As we face the housing crisis, we know that too many people have waited far too long for a safe, affordable home. The attacks that we saw over the summer have only made the situation worse. Conducting hate crimes and intimidating people out of their homes will not solve the housing crisis. Our motion calls for urgent action to protect the people who are targeted but also to deliver housing for all. <BR /> <BR />A comment was made about legitimate concerns and how, when we talk about this, we diminish the concerns that communities feel.”
“We tabled the motion, as my colleague Kellie Armstrong outlined, because no one in this place should ever be attacked in their home because of who they are or things that they cannot control. Sadly, we have seen too many racist and sectarian attacks in recent months. In my constituency, I have worked with pregnant women and their families who had been forced out, children who were left frightened and people who were living in fear, and that is simply unacceptable. As political leaders, we have a duty to stand clearly with victims and to never give cover to the perpetrators. <BR /> <BR />Words matter, but words alone are not enough.”
“Thank you for coming to the House, Minister. Like others, I am glad to see some investment and funding, especially given that Ballymena United Football Club is in my constituency. You emphasised fairness and transparency. How will progress be monitored? What accountability measures will be put in place if projects fail to deliver some of those community benefits? Will you commit to publishing updates on delivery, including timelines and spending, so that we can scrutinise and track progress to see how that money is being spent?”
“Will the Minister detail the €80 million investment in rural development under PEACE PLUS, please?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your second statement. Will you give us an update on what the Loughs Agency is doing about pollution incidents?”
“Will the Minister provide an update on cross-border collaboration on climate change and on any impact arising from the recent A5 judgement?”
“Thank you, Minister. How can we be assured that the teacher CPD academy will provide our teachers with the broadest possible range of academic thinking and teaching methods?”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the House. Will he outline how he will include buy-in into the future services from the sector and the individuals that this concerns, given that, previously, they have felt that they have been ignored or excluded from previous reviews? They have indicated that, currently, they have no faith in what they are calling "this two-day review", especially as they believe that the Department trailed out the previous and earlier review for years.”
“<BR /> <BR />We also welcome the actions of Queen's University, Trinity and others that have divested from companies that are complicit in the brutality. I offer some disagreement to Mr Beattie's assertion that boycotting and divestment is a privileged stance that offers no impact. We have seen that work before, and we know that it works. Their stand is a powerful reminder that we all have a role to play in advancing peace and justice, and we owe it to the people of Gaza and to everyone who is affected by this conflict — every mother grieving a child, every father searching rubble for survivors and every child who has known nothing but war — to demand an end to this horror and to press pause, not just for peace but for a just peace and to reaffirm our shared humanity.”