Aoife Finnegan
Newry and Armagh · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on Second Stage of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill. Sinn Féin recognises the need to modernise the legislation governing our fisheries and water environment.”
“Those who deliberately pollute our waterways should be held accountable, but enforcement alone will not resolve the underlying causes of poor water quality. If we are serious about restoring our rivers, lakes and waterways, we must continue to invest in waste water infrastructure.”
“Approximately half of respondents to the Department's consultation on the policy proposals expressed the view that the impact assessments accompanying the consultation did not adequately consider the potential impacts of the proposals. That is a significant concern and should not be overlooked.”
“It is one of the reasons for many victims never coming forward and for others withdrawing before their case reaches trial. That should concern every one of us. Clause 26 is therefore a welcome and important step forward.”
“They are asked why they had not reported it sooner; whether they had been drinking; what they were wearing; or whether previous relationships somehow diminish their credibility. No victim should ever feel that they are on trial, yet, for too many survivors, that has been their lived experience.”
“Catalysed by the infamous rugby rape trial, it exposed uncomfortable truths about how victims were treated, and it challenged us to build a justice system that delivers justice without compounding trauma.”
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“The first time that I encountered that type of abuse was when a constituent came to my office. She had made the very difficult decision to leave an abusive partner and the home that they shared, but she was forced to leave behind a beloved dog when she fled for her safety. In the weeks that followed, she asked her abusive ex-partner whether she could see the dog that she loved so dearly. Her former partner told her that she could see the dog but only when she returned to him. The risk to her safety was simply too great, and, as a result, she never saw that dog again. <BR /> <BR />It was never about love or care for the animal on the abuser's end; the dog was being used as a tool of coercion and control.”
“<BR /> <BR />We strongly support amendment No 88 and welcome the recognition that it gives to the realities of domestic abuse and coercive control. Over the years, our understanding of domestic abuse has developed significantly. We know that abuse is not limited to physical violence; it can involve a pattern of behaviour designed to intimidate, isolate, manipulate and control another person. Threats or acts of cruelty towards family pets are one such depraved form of coercive and controlling behaviour. <BR /> <BR />For many families, pets are not simply animals but loved companions and valued members of the household. Abusers understand that emotional bond and, in many cases, deliberately exploit it to exercise power and control over their victims.”
“Human trafficking remains a serious concern across these islands and beyond. Victims are frequently subjected to intimidation, violence, coercion and manipulation. Many are hidden in plain sight. When considering amendment No 78, we must remember that behind every statistic is a human being whose rights, dignity and safety have been violated. The Assembly's all-party group on human trafficking and exploitation has consistently highlighted the need for stronger measures to disrupt exploitation and support victims. We welcome the continued focus on that issue. The amendment would address one aspect of a wider problem that should be viewed as part of a broader effort to tackle trafficking, organised crime and sexual exploitation. Protecting vulnerable people must remain our priority.”
“I will speak on amendment Nos 78 and 88. Amendment No 78 recognises the important objective that sits behind it. The advertising of sexual services cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader issues of exploitation, coercion and human trafficking. While there are often differing perspectives on how best to approach those complex matters, there should be broad agreement that our laws must do everything possible to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse. <BR /> <BR />Organisations working on the front line of such issues have repeatedly highlighted the role that advertising platforms can play in facilitating exploitation. Increasingly, those involved in organised criminal activity utilise online platforms and digital technologies to recruit, control and profit from vulnerable people.”
“An important part of your three-pronged approach is natural drainage, which keeps rainwater out of the waste water system, freeing up capacity for vital housing. Can you provide an update on the urban drainage transformation project?”
“<BR /> <BR />Importantly, recognising vulnerabilities does not remove accountability or diminish responsibility; rather, it allows interventions to be tailored in such a way that they are more likely to achieve positive outcomes and reduce the likelihood of future harm. We particularly welcome the amendments because they reinforce the child-centred ethos that runs through the Bill. Children and young people are not just smaller adults: their developmental needs, maturity and life experiences must be considered separately. The Committee carefully examined the evidence before making the recommendations, and we believe that the amendments will improve the legislation considerably. For those reasons, Sinn Féin will support amendment Nos 41 to 43.”
“Those realities can have a profound impact on behaviour, decision-making and engagement with justice processes. Witnesses repeatedly highlighted that vulnerabilities are not always visible and cannot be assumed to be understood by public authorities; instead, they need to be actively recognised and taken into account. The Committee heard evidence from organisations that work directly with children and young people every day. They spoke about the importance of ensuring that public authorities are equipped to identify vulnerabilities and to respond appropriately. They also highlighted the need for a trauma-informed approach that understands behaviour in the wider context of a person's experiences and circumstances. The amendments help achieve that objective.”
“Sinn Féin is pleased to support amendment Nos 41 to 43. We appreciate the extensive work undertaken by the Justice Committee throughout its scrutiny of the Bill. The amendments arose directly from evidence presented to the Committee by organisations that work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. Their message was consistent and compelling: vulnerabilities must be explicitly recognised in the framework of the legislation if we are serious about delivering a fair and effective justice system. <BR /> <BR />The justice system does not operate in a vacuum. The individuals who come into contact with it often carry experiences such as trauma, poverty, exploitation, addiction, mental ill health, adverse childhood experiences and learning difficulties.”
“<BR /> <BR />While the Bill proposes review and appeal mechanisms, those arrangements have yet to be fully developed or scrutinised. Sinn Féin believes that there must be genuinely independent oversight of retention decisions. The biometrics commissioner should have a stronger case-handling role and sufficient powers to ensure public confidence in the system. <BR /> <BR />At its core, the debate is about striking the right balance between public safety and individual rights. We believe that the amendments achieve that balance, and, for those reasons, Sinn Féin will support them.”
“The Minister has pointed to a reduced retention period for under-18s. While that is welcome, it does not go far enough. We support a model similar to that operating in Scotland, where retention beyond the initial period must be justified and approved in exceptional circumstances. <BR /> <BR />We have also heard arguments that data should be retained where a person has not been convicted but concerns remain about their behaviour. We must be careful here. The starting point of any democratic justice system is the presumption of innocence. If an individual has not been convicted, any interference with their privacy rights must be demonstrably necessary and proportionate. Biometric information is deeply personal and sensitive data, and it must be treated accordingly.”
“If it can be done more quickly than that, I am sure that all MLAs would welcome the opportunity to scrutinise and implement the regulations as soon as possible. <BR /> <BR />I will quickly touch on some of Sinn Fein's amendments on biometrics. There is a concern that the data of children and young people should be retained because of the potential risk of reoffending, and my colleague outlined that. However, our position is clear: we have learned from other jurisdictions that positive outcomes can be achieved without unnecessarily stigmatising young people. Our amendment still allows for the retention of biometric data where an individual has been convicted of a qualifying offence or an expected offence. What we oppose is the automatic retention of sensitive personal data without sufficient justification.”
“It is not sustainable not to have a legal framework for dealing with that material. <BR /> <BR />Photographs are no longer just photographs. In an increasingly digital world, with increasing surveillance, photographs are a key biometric identifier that can be shared across borders and international law-enforcement agencies. It is vital that proportionate safeguards are put in place to curtail potential abuses of that data. I welcome the Committee's scrutiny of the matter, and I am pleased to support the Committee's amendment. I welcome the Minister's earlier comments to Mr Frew. While the Committee amendment states that the regulations must be introduced within five years, I encourage the Minister to act with urgency and to introduce a new photographs framework as quickly as she can. I know that she has agreed to that today.”
“<BR /> <BR />While the Bill is primarily intended to remedy issues arising from judgements in the European Court of Human Rights, it is vital that we future-proof the legislation in a way that takes account of emerging technologies. The roll-out of AI and facial recognition technologies in the South, in Britain and across Europe is a development that all of us must keep a close eye on, due to the risk of misuse and miscarriages of justice from unproven technology. We know that AI in particular is only as good as the data that it is trained on. If historical police data reflects bias, AI can reinforce those patterns rather than correct them. There is a real risk that AI can be extended to facial recognition technology that, when processed, becomes biometric material for police services.”
“I reference the fact that, in 1992, I was four. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin supports the introduction of a new biometric data framework, because we believe that the retention of biometric data must always be based on the clear principles of necessity, proportionality and justification. <BR /> <BR />I want to take a moment to focus on the issue of photographs. The absence of a framework for the retention, use and deletion of photographs is a glaring omission and needs to be rectified urgently. I am therefore pleased to support amendment No 40, which provides the Department with a time-limited, regulation-making power to introduce a new framework for photographs.”
“and following my party colleague Dáire Hughes MP's direct representations to the Minister, can the Minister provide clarity on what specific steps are being taken to progress the proposed redevelopment works and outline a time frame for any decision-making or delivery?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Given the ongoing concerns raised by staff, parents and the wider school community at St Patrick's Primary School and Gaelscoil Phádraig Naofa in Crois Mhic Lionnáin”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Following the NSMC meeting, does the Minister agree that the long-term success of the fishing, aquaculture and seafood sectors will depend on deeper all-island planning and investment? Also, what steps has the Minister taken to ensure that communities across the island benefit from that approach?”
“Minister, it was welcome to see the signing of the contracts for the Enterprise fleet replacement project. The hourly Enterprise service has been a game changer for the all-island economy. Can you give an update on that scheme?”
“Sarah, we are proud of you, your community is proud of you, and your friends and family love and support you. We are all immensely proud of everything that you have achieved. Crossmaglen cannot wait to welcome you home.”
“For years, she has inspired and empowered others through fitness, sport and community leadership. She has encouraged women across south Armagh to step outside their comfort zone, build their confidence and believe in themselves. She has supported women through some of life's toughest challenges and has shown that sport can be a powerful force for resilience, well-being and friendship. Everest may be the highest mountain in the world, but Sarah's greatest achievement has always been lifting others up along the way. <BR /> <BR />As Sarah makes her way across the skies back to Irish soil, she returns not only as an Everest summiteer but as an inspiration to an entire generation of young people who now know that no dream is too big and no mountain is too high.”
“I pay tribute to an extraordinary woman from south Armagh who has just made history. Last week, Sarah Armstrong from Crossmaglen stood on the highest point on earth when she successfully summited Mount Everest. For most people, Everest is a dream. For Sarah, it became a goal. Through determination, resilience and hard work, she turned that dream into a reality. <BR /> <BR />As she grew up in south Armagh, sport has always been at the heart of Sarah's life from representing Ireland at netball and captaining Ireland at the World Youth Cup to building a successful career in dentistry and establishing her practice in Jonesborough. Sarah has always pushed herself to achieve more, but what makes her achievement special is that she has never focused solely on her own success.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Minister, in the absence of flexibility from the British Government, is there anything that you can do to ensure that some of the funding goes to people who are in fuel poverty?”
“Given that we are now in late May, will the Minister give an update on the progress of that review and outline what tangible actions have been taken to address the ongoing backlog in planning consultations?”
“In February, the AERA Committee received an update on the NIEA planning review. In that briefing, the NIEA acknowledged that simple residential applications had been delayed for two years because they had been shelved. That was not the responsibility of the council involved. One example was an application that the NIEA could not sign off on because of a bat review that had been shelved simply as a result of there not being enough staff. The office that MLAs hold is not being respected, given that there are no responses whatsoever —.”
“<BR /> <BR />Echoing comments that have been made here today, I record my sincere appreciation of every home care worker across our community for the incredible work that they do every day. However, appreciation alone is not enough. The workers deserve to have fair pay, proper support and a system that values the essential role that they play in caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”
“Sometimes, care workers are the only people whom an individual sees day to day, yet, despite the essential nature of its work, the sector continues to face major recruitment and retention difficulties. That is why the commitment to introduce the real living wage for social care workers must be delivered on. If we are serious about protecting our health service, reducing the pressure on hospitals and supporting people to live independently for longer, we must be serious about investing to future-proof our home care sector. We must truly recognise the additional challenges faced by rural communities, such as those in Newry and Armagh, where geography and travel distances place a further strain on an already overstretched service.”
“Thank you for that. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate the points made in the intervention, and I agree that it needs to be sorted as a matter of urgency. <BR /> <BR />As has been said, patients who are medically fit to leave hospital remain there because a suitable care package for them cannot be sourced. Families are exhausted trying to fill the gaps themselves. Older carers, many of whom have health conditions of their own, carry enormous responsibility without the support that they need. <BR /> <BR />Home care workers provide an invaluable service in communities across the North. They help people to wash, dress, eat, take medication and maintain their independence, but they also provide companionship and a human connection to people who may otherwise be isolated and alone.”
“When providers cannot recruit or retain staff, or when the delivery of rural packages becomes financially unsustainable, it is vulnerable people and their families who suffer the consequences. Carers have recently told me that, when they calculate their wages and travel costs, they are not even making minimum wage, and —”
“<BR /> <BR />In recent months, I have met care workers from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, along with providers and agencies, including Enable Care, who voiced their concerns about the growing pressures on the sector. They spoke about workforce shortages, the increasing demands that raise operational costs and, critically, the additional burden of delivering care in large rural areas. In those rural areas, care workers often travel 40 miles or 50 miles on a single run to reach vulnerable people living in isolated communities. They travel long distances on rural roads in all weather conditions to try to ensure that people receive the support and dignity that they absolutely deserve. That cannot continue to be ignored. <BR /> <BR />This has been an issue for some time.”
“Some very important points have been made on the motion. Important comments have also been made across the House by a party that seems to have forgotten that it, too, sits on the Executive. That seems like a major deflection from taking responsibility. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion, which highlights the very real pressures facing home care services across rural constituencies, such as my constituency of Newry and Armagh. One issue that is increasingly raised in my constituency office is the real struggle that families face in trying to secure appropriate care packages for loved ones who simply want to remain living at home safely and independently. For families across south Armagh and the rural parts of Newry and Armagh, that challenge is particularly severe.”
“The Minister has acknowledged the rationale for the administration of the injury on duty awards and ill-health retirement schemes to transfer from the Policing Board to the PSNI. Does the Minister have a timescale for the introduction of the necessary legislative amendments to carry out that work?”
“I understand, Minister, that you are taking measures to make access to legal aid less complicated. Do you agree that, as I have heard, solicitors have come back to say that there is little uptake of that legal aid because it is not being offered because the application process, as it stands, is so complex? They say that they reckon that the paperwork is the same as an accountant would need.”
“Finally, we need to ask ourselves this question: if victims are leaving our courts feeling retraumatised, children are not being adequately heard and perpetrators are able to continue patterns of control through legal processes, are we truly delivering justice or are we allowing harm to continue in a different form?”
“<BR /> <BR />The RaISe paper also highlights clear systemic issues, such as low uptake of legal aid waivers, complex application processes, barriers to access and a system that risks retraumatising those whom it is meant to protect. Therefore, we need to be honest with ourselves and accept that reform is required. That means better recognition of litigation abuse, stronger protections for victims in court settings, a more consistent trauma-informed approach across the system and a renewed focus on the voice, safety and well-being of the child. It also means ensuring that court processes cannot be used as a tool of coercive control.”
“Under the Children (NI) Order 1995, we are clear: where a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm, there must be intervention. Emotional abuse is recognised as a primary category of harm, yet the reality of that threshold is not always being applied consistently in the family courts. <BR /> <BR />We already have legislation in place. The Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act 2021 was a significant step forward, but legislation, on its own, is not enough, because we are now seeing the gaps between what was agreed in this Assembly and what the victims are experiencing on the ground. Protections are not being fully implemented and are not always accessible. Protection that cannot be accessed is not protection at all.”
“She sits there completely alone, because the patterns of behaviour are not recognised, since the systems do not join up. There are still gaps in training, in understanding and in how coercive control is recognised across the system. What is happening? The fight for her life — the fight to protect herself and her child — is playing out in a courtroom while the person who caused the harm gets to sit and watch and take serious satisfaction from it. That cannot be what justice looks like. <BR /> <BR />We also need to recognise that abuse does not stop at the adult victim. Manipulative behaviours are often directed at children, too — psychological abuse, emotional harm — and, even when a child court officer has identified that abuse, it is not always treated with the same weight or urgency as it would be in the social work system.”
“All the while, her child is everything to her — the most important thing in the world — but, from the moment that child was born, she knew that there was a risk that, through abuse, manipulation, lies and fear, that child could be used against her, because litigation can be misused. Even when the misuse is so clear and the pattern of behaviour so obvious, it is not treated as a crime, because, in the eyes of the law, the correct avenue — the court process — is being taken. She is left in a position where, technically, she is protected, but only by a court order, which can be broken and relies on the behaviour of someone who has already demonstrated that they do not recognise boundaries or respect authority. They never have, and they never will.”
“We can talk about legislation, systems and processes, but this is about people. It is about a mother who is sitting in a courtroom in a state of absolute stress. Her heart is racing, her mind is trying to keep up and her body is reacting to trauma, because she is sitting just feet away from the person of whom she is deeply afraid, and she is expected to answer questions, stay composed and present perfectly. When she struggles and her voice quivers — when she becomes overwhelmed — it is not recognised as trauma. It is judged, questioned and sometimes even used against her, as if it is simply a way of her behaving, when, in reality, it is deep, deep fear.”
“Too often, it finds a new platform through the courts, and litigation becomes a tool of abuse, not in the interest of the child but as a means of maintaining control. We need to talk about what that looks like in practice. Women have come forward to say that, on a Monday, they are granted a 12-month non-molestation order protecting them from direct and indirect contact from their abuser, but, by the Wednesday, they are sitting just feet away from the same abuser, in a courtroom, and are expected to engage, respond and remain composed. They are then ordered to communicate through a court-mandated parenting app, which creates yet another channel of communication and control. That contradiction is stark, and it is happening. <BR /> <BR />I will bring it back to what it feels like for a parent.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have a system in which social services are often working to a threshold of what is considered to be "good enough": a child is fed; a child is clothed; there is a roof over their head. However, when it comes to the courts, particularly in private family court proceedings, anything less than perfect can be scrutinised, challenged and used against a protective parent. At the same time, a perpetrator can continue to bring forward allegation after allegation, even when those allegations have been found to be unfounded. There can be repeated allegations, repeated challenges and relentless pressure. That imbalance cannot be ignored. <BR /> <BR />We also know, and the evidence now confirms it, that coercive control does not end when a relationship ends.”
“A growing body of evidence, including the 2025 Research and Information Service (RaISe) briefing, lays bare the reality of how victims of domestic abuse are experiencing our family courts. It makes for deeply uncomfortable reading, because, while our courts are there to protect, or so we believe, the lived experience of many women and children is very different. We see consistent findings from RaISe, the 'Totally Invisible' report and the recent Criminal Justice Inspection (CJINI) work all pointing in the same direction and showing that, for far too many victims, abuse does not end; it evolves and, too often, continues through the systems that are meant to protect them.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“I extend my thoughts to Katie's family, who are very bravely here. <BR /> <BR />Minister, last week, the Criminal Justice Inspection review of the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act 2021 showed a poor uptake and a reducing quality of training in the justice system. It is clear from your statement that more work needs to be done in policing to recognise coercive control as a serious and potentially lethal risk factor and to recognise and challenge gendered stereotypes and victim-blaming narratives. What more can be done by you and your Department to ensure that the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act is implemented in full?”
“Minister, how is your Department supporting the climate action plan (CAP)?”
“Doing nothing is not an option, but doing the wrong thing would be just as damaging.”
“<BR /> <BR />Animal welfare, environmental protection and disease control must be considered together, not in isolation. When we see 1,200 to 1,300 cattle being culled monthly as a result of bovine TB, does that not meet exceptional circumstances? If there are animal welfare measures in place, and rightly so, for badgers, why does the same not apply to cattle? Crucially, we must not lose sight of the opportunity that exists through cooperation. The Shared Island approach and the work of the TB partnership group show that progress is possible when we take a coordinated, evidence-based and all-island view. That is where real change will come from. <BR /> <BR />The motion sends a clear message that we recognise the scale of the challenge, support farmers, and are calling for urgent, effective and fair action to finally tackle bovine TB.”
“Instead, it is being drained by a problem that we have yet to get fully under control. <BR /> <BR />Yes, action is absolutely needed, but it must be the right action. It is not simply about one measure or one headline. It is about the integrity of the process and ensuring that any intervention is based on just transition, fairness and proper consultation. Farmers deserve to have confidence in the approach being taken, and they deserve transparency. They deserve to know that decisions are being made with them not done to them. We have to be honest about the complexity of the issue. Wildlife intervention is part of the conversation, but it cannot be the only conversation. If we are talking about exceptional measures in one area, how we apply standards across the board must be consistent.”
“I support the motion, because bovine tuberculosis is not just an agriculture issue; it is an environment issue, a public health issue and, fundamentally, a livelihood issue for farming families across our rural communities. <BR /> <BR />We cannot ignore the reality that high levels of disease in our herd increase emissions and costs and undermine the stability of our food production. When animals are lost, herds are restricted and farmers are left in limbo, that has a real and lasting impact not only on the agri-food sector but on the people whom it leaves behind. Let us be clear: our farmers are carrying a heavy burden. We are talking about a disease that is costing over £60 million every year. That money could be invested in the rural economy and sustainability measures and used to support farm families.”
“That is what just transition must mean in practice.”
“From our perspective, there is a clear all-Ireland dimension involved. Climate change does not recognise borders. We therefore cannot operate in silos. There must be alignment and coordination across the island if we are serious about delivering meaningful climate action. Already, we can look to examples in the Twenty-six Counties and in Scotland of where steps have been taken to embed just transition principles in policy. There is learning to be had from there, and we should be building on it. <BR /> <BR />We support the draft regulations, but support must come with ambition. We have an opportunity not just to respond to climate change but to reshape our economy in a way that is fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable. We have an opportunity to protect livelihoods, create jobs and ensure that no community is left behind.”