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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“I promise that I will try not to keep us 15 minutes. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to raise the closure of the South Cairn on Slieve Gullion. The site holds enormous archaeological, cultural and historical significance for the people of south Armagh. The South Cairn is the highest surviving Neolithic passage tomb in Ireland. It is over 6,000 years old — older than the pyramids. For six millennia, it has stood on the summit of Slieve Gullion, looking out across the landscape of south Armagh and beyond through storms and centuries of change, conflict and hardship. <BR /> <BR />For generations, people — families, schoolchildren, walkers and visitors from across the island and the world — have made the climb to the top of the mountain.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“The people whom we represent expect there to be strong environmental protections and proper accountability, not false promises, blockages and parties speaking out of both sides of their mouth when it comes to the issue of tackling environmental decline. Sinn Féin will support the motion.”
“At the heart of the debate should be the simple principle that communities deserve to have confidence that environmental protections will be robust, credible and effectively enforced. They also deserve advice and support on how to reduce pollution and improve waterways, which are functions that an IEPA could also fulfil. <BR /> <BR />For far too long, environmental protection has fallen between the stools, with Departments and agencies failing to step in to take proactive measures. An independent environmental protection agency could fill that gap and ensure better accountability and better protection of our environment.”
“I have said this before and will say it again: environmental damage does not recognise borders. Our rivers, waterways, ecosystems, wildlife and so on are shared across the island. Pollution that begins in one jurisdiction does not recognise a line on a map. If we are serious about protecting our natural environment, our approach must therefore be sensible and ambitious. Any new environmental body must have the independence, powers and resources required to hold authorities to account, but it must also be capable of working and communicating constructively with its counterparts across the island. Issues such as water quality, illegal waste activity and biodiversity loss require coordinated responses between North and South.”
“Not now. <BR /> <BR />Strengthening environmental governance must remain a priority if we are to restore public confidence and ensure that environmental standards are properly upheld. However, as we consider the establishment of an independent environmental protection agency, it is also important that we take a practical and forward-looking approach.”
“The DUP simply cannot, on the one hand, express concern about ongoing environmental crises, such as that at Lough Neagh, and, on the other hand, block measures designed to strengthen environmental accountability. We have seen similar positions before when it comes to environmental policy. Initial opposition to stronger climate action eventually gave way to acceptance when the direction of travel became clear. Communities expect that same recognition now. Stronger environmental oversight and accountability are necessary if we are to truly protect our natural environment.”
“I support the motion. Protecting our environment is a responsibility that we all share, not only for the communities that we represent now but for the generations that will inherit this island thereafter. Across the North, we have seen the devastating consequences of environmental damage and neglect, from the ongoing crisis affecting Lough Neagh to illegal dumping in Mobuoy and the greater pressures on biodiversity and water quality. Communities are rightly asking whether the systems that we have in place are strong enough to protect our natural environment. That is why the discussion about the establishment of an independent environmental protection agency is a very important one. <BR /> <BR />There was a clear commitment in the New Decade, New Approach agreement to establish such a body. That agreement must be respected and implemented.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Parents rely on child maintenance to ensure that their children receive the support that they are entitled to. There are concerns, however, that some individuals deliberately avoid making payments or manipulate the system to reduce or evade payments. One example of that is cross-border workers, who are supposed to declare their income but, many times, do not. What measures are in place or are being considered to identify and address cases where the system is being abused, particularly where income may be deliberately under-reported or hidden?”
“<BR /> <BR />While the challenges facing businesses as part of the changes remain, doing nothing is simply not an option. Failure to implement the ETS would result in the costs being incurred through the carbon border adjustment mechanism. Whilst some in the House would like to bury their heads in the sand in respect of climate change, Sinn Féin continues to show leadership, and that is why we will support the implementation of the ETS, as we have supported other schemes in the past. We will continue to engage constructively and ensure that climate action is based on just transition so that workers, families and businesses can be supported to reduce their climate emissions in order to help us to meet our targets.”
“<BR /> <BR />While we support the principle behind the measure, it is essential that climate action and carbon reduction are delivered in a way that is fair, balanced and workable for the industry. That means applying the principles of just transition. In preparing for such measures, it is important that we listen carefully to those who will be affected most directly, including the ferry industry, manufacturers and other industries that rely on cargo being shipped as part of their business. With that in mind, there is an onus on the AERA Minister and the British Government to work with the industry as the changes come into effect and, where possible, consider whether mitigations could assist implementation. I am glad to see that some mitigations have already been factored in through the measures for goods imported across the Irish Sea.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion to extend the emissions trading scheme to maritime activities. <BR /> <BR />Climate change remains one of the defining challenges of our time. The scientific evidence is clear, and the consequences of inaction are increasingly visible in extreme weather events, the pressures on the natural environment and the growing risks faced by future generations. Shipping, like all sectors of our economy, must play its part in reducing carbon emissions. Extending the emissions trading scheme to maritime transport is, therefore, an important step in supporting carbon reduction across the sector and ensuring that responsibility for tackling emissions is shared fairly.”
“— has been a catastrophic failure for ordinary people here.”
“People here pay taxes towards things that bring no benefit to daily life in the North. Money goes on the British monarchy, royal estates, historic war debts and military spending. That money is not available to the Executive to tackle waiting lists, repair roads or build homes. Services are left underfunded, and community groups are cutting the number of staff and vital projects in our most disadvantaged areas. That is not ideology: it is reality. <BR /> <BR />That system affects everyone. We can no longer pretend that it is working. Working families in nationalist areas feel it, working families in unionist areas feel it, rural communities feel it, and towns and cities feel it. We see it in overcrowded hospitals and broken infrastructure. The result of political choices being tied to the British economic system —”
“The latest trade statistics show comparable levels of trade North and South, with around £4·3 billion worth of trade travelling in each direction. Collectively, the value of North/South trade equated to £8·6 billion in 2025, which underlines the opportunity for growth and prosperity. <BR /> <BR />While the Southern economy records budget surpluses, here, in the North, Westminster continues to tell us that we have received record funding. The truth is that the underfunding of our public services continues. The British Treasury's claims simply do not stand up. Wealth is created here every day by workers and businesses across the North. Large corporations operate and profit here, yet those profits are often recorded elsewhere and counted as British revenue. Similarly, the value of tax that is paid by workers here remains opaque and unclear.”
“Partition was never meant to operate on the basis of fairness, equality and parity of opportunity. It was an undemocratic political decision that was imposed upon this island. Citizens across Ireland are living with the consequences daily. Our all-island economy and cross-border trade have grown exponentially over the past decade. The recent Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report on assessing economic trends on the island of Ireland shows that North/South trade is continuing to go from strength to strength. That report allows us to better understand our economies and their integration. Increasingly, businesses across Ireland are working together, so it is important that decisions that are taken by the Dublin Government and the Executive keep pace with those changes.”
“Does the Minister agree that sheep and cattle can play a key role in helping manage vegetation, particularly in upland areas, to prevent the outbreak of wildfires?”
“Minister, ending sexual offences forms a major part of the Executive's ending violence against women and girls strategy. Can you give me an update on your Department's work on the strategy?”
“Minister, your statement referenced nutrient pressures from waste water infrastructure. Will you clarify the proportion of nutrient-loading attributes in waste water compared with other sources and how parity on that will be ensured?”
“<BR /> <BR />Groups such as Lislea Men's Shed are not waiting to be told what to do; they recognise what they have, and they are determined not to lose it. They understand that biodiversity is not an abstract concept; it is the birds that their grandchildren watch, it is the landscape that shapes local identity, and it is the ecosystems that sustain life. If we are serious about protecting our environment, we must recognise that truth. Real environmental leadership is happening in our communities every day. Men's sheds are not just about well-being; they are about responsibility, stewardship and legacy. What Lislea Men's Shed is doing at Camlough lake is an example of community at its best.”
“Two weekends ago, I attended a community and family day at Camlough lake that was hosted by Lislea Men's Shed. We often speak about men's sheds supporting mental health, connection and companionship, and that work is invaluable. However, I witnessed something more: I saw men stepping forward as guardians of their community. Lislea Men's Shed does not simply provide activities; it protects an ecological asset for future generations. The men use their skills, time and commitment to safeguard wildlife, habitats and natural heritage in their area through their wildfowl and wetlands project at part of the lake that is known locally as "the commons". They, alongside my party colleague Councillor Oonagh Magennis, have worked on that since 2019.”
“Will the Minister provide an update on the closure of the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme?”
“I thank the Member for taking an intervention. Does she agree that, all too often, perpetrators exploit their position of power and authority to manipulate, control and, ultimately, abuse and further damage their victims?”
“It is my understanding that advice has been issued following correspondence between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Shared Environmental Service on the cross-border impacts of agricultural litter and manure spreading on designated sites. Will the Minister confirm that the Environment Agency has considered that advice in relevant planning cases, and will he publish the advice as soon as possible in the interests of transparency?”
“The phased reduction of free allocation for sectors covered by the carbon border adjustment mechanism reflect the introduction of a UK CBAM from 2027, helping to prevent carbon leakage and create a level playing field. Those are proportionate, technical updates that maintain coherence in the scheme. For those reasons, we support the motion.”
“That is why the ongoing joint work between the Finance Minister, John O'Dowd, and the AERA Minister, Andrew Muir, is so important, in particular their efforts to secure improved access to the EU ETS innovation fund and relevant UK ETS funding streams. If we are contributing to those schemes, it is only right that the Executive are positioned to draw down funding to help meet our climate commitments under the Climate Change Act. <BR /> <BR />Turning to the amendments, excluding the COVID-period data from baseline calculations is a sensible step, as emissions during that period are artificially suppressed. Aligning UK benchmarks with EU benchmarks provides consistency and supports fair competition.”
“I support the draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026. While the Order is technical in nature, it sits within a broader strategic context. Since Brexit, the North participates in both the UK emissions trading scheme and, in respect of electricity generation under the Windsor framework, the EU emissions trading scheme. That unique position brings complexity, but it also creates opportunity. <BR /> <BR />In 2025, participation in the EU ETS generated approximately £53·5 million in auction revenue associated with activity here. Revenue linked to the UK ETS also represents a significant sum depending on carbon prices and allocations.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Minister, are you concerned that there is a general lack of awareness that e-scooters are not legally permitted for road use in the North?”
“I thank the Minister for her strong commitment to road safety. Minister, will you give us an update on the speed limit review?”
“I thank the junior Minister for her answer. Will she provide an update on the new campaign on coercive control?”
“The focus must remain on those who profit from exploitation: traffickers, organised criminal networks and abusers. Online platforms have responsibilities and must be held accountable where they facilitate exploitation or ignore trafficking indicators, but regulation must be carefully designed to enhance women's safety, not undermine it. We must continue to engage constructively on the motion, guided by a single principle, which is that women's safety, dignity and well-being must come first.”
“I welcome the motion. Sinn Féin approaches it with care, seriousness and compassion, because women's lives, safety and dignity are at its heart. There can be no ambiguity in our position when it comes to exploitation, coercion and trafficking. Those are grave abuses of human rights and must be confronted whenever and wherever they occur, including in online spaces. However, we have a responsibility to ensure that our responses do not unintentionally impact on women and place them at greater risk. Evidence from front-line organisations shows that blanket bans or poorly designed criminalisation can push sex workers underground, increasing vulnerability and reducing access to support. <BR /> <BR />If our aim is the welfare and safety of women, policy must remain and always be victim-centred, trauma-informed and shaped by lived experiences.”
“Technology companies and AI developers must be held to account through regulation, enforcement and meaningful penalties. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin supports the motion and urges the Minister of Justice to act with urgency, ambition and cooperation to ensure that women and girls are protected and perpetrators are held to account.”
“Platform owners and AI developers must not be allowed to be complicit in protecting perpetrators through inaction or weak safeguarding. <BR /> <BR />The issue cannot be addressed in isolation. Online violence does not respect borders, and our response should reflect that reality. There is a strong case for an all-island approach. Coco's law is in place in the South. It not only criminalises the sharing of intimate sexual images without consent but has made it an offence to send deepfake images. There is no doubt that the law can be strengthened to include deepfake images. We can work together to properly protect women and children across the island. <BR /> <BR />Education is vital, but the responsibility does not rest with the children or victims. The buck stops with the online platforms.”
“<BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin is committed to tackling the scourge of violence against women and girls, and I am proud that our First Minister and the Executive have shown real leadership by prioritising the ending violence against women and girls strategy. That strategy recognises that online abuse is not separate from real-world harm and that technology is increasingly being weaponised against women and girls. In a world where coercive control is becoming better understood, where perpetrators are increasingly being held to account and where we acknowledge that we still have much more to do, online platforms now represent an additional and dangerous layer of abuse. Those platforms can enable coercive control, harassment and humiliation at scale.”
“I start by echoing the comments commending Cara for moving the motion and for sharing her difficult story. I can only imagine it. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin welcomes the motion and supports its core intent. The use of artificial intelligence to facilitate online violence against women and girls is deeply concerning, rapidly evolving and causing real and lasting harm. It is not an abstract or distant issue. In my constituency of Newry and Armagh, we saw a deeply disturbing example just last week where AI-generated deepfake images were created and circulated in a school setting. That incident underlines the urgency of the debate and the reality that the abuse is already affecting our young people, our communities and our families.”
“I am glad to hear questions being asked about SES and its role. We have met farmers and the agri-food sector and have heard that some planning applications have taken three or more years to be decided. Minister, what is your Department doing to help in those cases?”
“<BR /> <BR />Importantly, the approach is consistent with Sinn Féin's long-standing commitment to environmental protection. Safeguarding biodiversity, meeting our climate responsibilities and preserving our natural environment for those who come after us are our core priorities, not secondary considerations. Supporting the motion reflects that commitment practically. The measures proposed are proportionate and necessary. They do not create unreasonable obligations but provide clarity and authority for local bodies to assist in enforcing international standards, tackling unlawful exploitation and supporting the long-term protection of our oceans. Endorsing the motion is the correct course of action for the environment, science and future generations.”
“From the perspective of the North, it is sensible and necessary that we support the clauses. As an island community, our relationship with the sea is fundamental: our coastal economies, fishing communities and marine ecosystems are deeply interconnected with ocean activity that takes place far beyond our territorial waters. The reality is that ocean ecosystems do not recognise borders, nor do the consequences of pollution, overfishing or climate breakdown. The legislation places environmental responsibility, scientific evidence and international collaboration at the centre of how global marine activity is governed. By extending the provisions here, we ensure that the North will actively contribute to that shared global responsibility, rather than standing on the margins.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the legislative consent motion. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill gives effect in domestic law to the High Seas treaty — a landmark international agreement that was the first of its kind to offer meaningful protection to marine biodiversity in areas of the ocean that lie beyond any single state's control. <BR /> <BR /> The provisions before us concern enforcement mechanisms, environmental impact assessments, the regulation and oversight of activities carried out on the high seas and the establishment and management of marine protected areas. While those measures operate within an international framework, their success depends on effective cooperation across all jurisdictions on these islands.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, biodiversity loss is already significant. What actions from the draft strategy would be prioritised in the first year to ensure early delivery?”
“The Minister's statement is welcome. Minister, the work of Waterways Ireland recognises that our waterways do not stop at the border, and neither do climate change or biodiversity. What steps is Waterways Ireland taking to address climate change and loss of biodiversity?”
“The report should be seen as a starting point, not an end point, and as an invitation to wider discussion with workers, communities, media professionals and the public about what a shared media future would look like. Those conversations matter because public service broadcasting plays a vital role in democratic life and in how people across this island understand one another.”
“That is a significant finding, and it speaks to the opportunity that change, if it comes, could present, not simply to rearrange what already exists but to design institutions that, at their core, reflect lived experiences, diversity of identity and the public interest in transparency and accountability. <BR /> <BR />Although the report focuses on media, the issues that it raises resonate far beyond broadcasting. Similar questions arise in healthcare, education and public services more broadly about access, equality and public confidence. I also welcome the continued engagement between the report's authors and Senator Conor Murphy, including plans for further discussions of its findings in the Oireachtas next month. That engagement is important if the report's research is to inform public debate meaningfully.”
“For many years, people in the South have been unable to access BBC content, while people in the North have faced barriers to accessing RTÉ programming. There have also been persistent concerns about geoblocking, particularly of major sporting events and moments of national and cultural significance. Those are not abstract problems. Instead, they affect how people engage with culture, sport, news and public life. They shape who feels included and who feels left out. <BR /> <BR />One of the report's most striking findings is that a preference was expressed for the establishment of a new all-island public service broadcaster in the event of constitutional change, rather than simply extending or adapting existing systems, which were never designed to serve the whole island equally.”
“I acknowledge the publication of the 'Public Media Ireland: a new PSM Organisation for a New Country' report, which researchers from Ulster University and Dublin City University produced. The report examines the future of public service broadcasting in the context of constitutional change on the island. The report is a timely and important contribution to a growing conversation, not only about constitutional features but about how our shared public institutions may evolve to meet the needs of a modern, diverse and inclusive society. The report's launch reflected the level of political and public interest in those questions. <BR /> <BR />The research highlights long-standing issues with which people across the island are all too familiar, such as access, fairness and equality in public service broadcasting.”
“His absence will be deeply felt. His voice, guidance and quiet strength will be sorely missed. My sincere condolences go to his family — his wife, his children and his grandchildren — and his many friends. <BR /> <BR />Mickey, all of us in Newry and Armagh, in the Thirty-two Counties and in Sinn Féin will miss you profoundly.”
“In his work, Mickey represented not only his fellow republicans but those from unionist and other backgrounds, treating every person who came through his door with the same respect, determination and humanity. For decades, Mickey stood as a shield between ordinary people and an often unforgiving system. He carried the weight of their worries as though they were his own, quietly and confidently, day after day. Families across Newry and Armagh may never fully know the extent of what he did for them, but their lives are better because he was there. <BR /> <BR />Mickey believed deeply in a united Ireland, not as a distant aspiration but as a fairer society where no one is left behind, where compassion sits at the heart of public service and where dignity is something that every person can expect, not something that they have to fight for.”
“He could sit with someone at their lowest point and make them feel seen, respected and believed in. He understood the system inside and out. More important, he understood people. He fought relentlessly for those who were sick, struggling or worn down by a system that, too often, worked against them. He did so without ever seeking recognition. There truly was no one like him. <BR /> <BR />Mickey dedicated his life to helping people and political activism. In doing so, he understood a fundamental truth: building a better Ireland meant bringing everyone with us. He believed that justice, equality and dignity were values that transcended tradition and backgrounds.”
“I rise with a heavy heart to pay tribute to Mickey Brady, a man whose impact on people's lives cannot be measured by titles or roles but by the dignity that he restored, the hope that he gave and the doors that he opened for those who had nowhere else to turn. I had the honour of calling Mickey a friend and comrade. He always showed his love for people through his compassion, quiet confidence and quick wit. I was privileged to be mentored by him on the welfare system, when he passed on not only his deep knowledge but his belief that public service must always be rooted in dignity and fairness. He taught compassion and persistence. He taught us that behind every case was a human being who was often frightened, struggling and unheard. <BR /> <BR />Mickey had a rare power.”