Speeches by Eastwood.

“This is at the crux of what we are trying to get at. Transformation is going to be key in terms of Northern Ireland public finance. One of my great bugbears is procurement. I know that the Public Accounts Committee and the Northern Ireland Assembly considered the Northern Ireland Audit Office’s 2023 report on Northern …”

“Thank you, Chair, for that indulgence. On that point, I was listening to Sir Robert, and one thing in my mind at the minute in terms of health is that we have a situation where people are blocking—I hate that word—the flow of leaving hospitals, because we do not have enough people working in domiciliary care. When I pr…”

“I thank the hon. Member for bringing this matter to the House today. Many people will know my own personal story, and that my husband has cancer. One thing we have found on this journey is the number of young people who are currently in hospital beds across Northern Ireland and every other part of the UK. Many of those…”

“I thank the hon. Member for bringing forward this issue. I agree with him completely in so far as violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland is at crisis levels. It is one of the most dangerous places in Europe to be a woman, and we have women and girls who have lost their lives already this year to violence.…”

“I agree with the point that the hon. Member has just made. Does he agree that businesses are facing not just a cost of living crisis, but a cost of doing business crisis? In my constituency, a restaurant called Huxo, which only opened a year ago, has unfortunately had to close—he referenced that issue in his own consti…”

“I stand here today on behalf of my many constituents who will feel utterly betrayed by this decision. Just months ago, people were promised a fresh start—a new change. Does the Secretary of State agree that not only will my constituents feel short-changed, but this decision will further compound a lack of trust in poli…”

“I am proud to have tabled several amendments to the Bill to support people in Northern Ireland and, indeed, the organisations that lobbied me to do so. Amendments 10, 11 and 12 seek to protect Northern Ireland’s healthcare, social care, childcare, hospices, and community and voluntary sectors from the impacts of the pr…”

“It is great to have you here today. We have been waiting for this session, because it is so important. You talked about the rally that was held in my constituency, in Lagan Valley, and our small family farm is literally just across the ditch from there. Peter, what you said about the emotion and the attachment to land …”

“I really appreciate the hon. Member bringing this matter to the House today. It is incumbent on all of us to ensure that we do everything we can to stand up for human rights, whether at home or abroad. The need to stand up for democracy, not only in the world in which we live physically but online, is also a real conce…”

“That leads on to the next point, which is about the data and how important it is to evidence. Peter, you have already worked up and gone through a number of very detailed scenarios. William, you alluded to the fact there that DAERA has, in fact, now published some figures, which have, I feel, brought us on in a way. I …”

“It does, and probably what comes across strongly from today, for anybody watching, is that there was absolutely no conversation prior to this. It was a terrible bolt out of the blue. What is refreshing for people who do not necessarily understand just how important this is, not just in economic and social terms, is tha…”

“The discussion we are having—and I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater) for the way that she has conducted it—almost implies that palliative care is of the same excellent standard across the UK. I have to inform the House that it is not, which is a matter of deep regret. I cannot stand by the…”

“I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker; I was in Committee at the start of the debate, but I did have my name down to speak. Some of my constituents were impacted by the scandal, and it has taken them this long to summon the courage to come forward. Obviously, I represent them and Northern Ireland. We have talked about the …”

“Sorry, you are baiting me into this. I have thought this through. In the King’s Speech, I heard “GB Energy” and in my head I thought, “We have a perfectly viable regional site”. It just so happens to be in Lagan Valley. It is actually the Maze Long Kesh site. I did press, off the back of that King’s Speech, and I said,…”

“Thank you for that response. Just before I hand over to others, there is a real risk, particularly in the online space, for children, and that really concerns me. I do, as we all do, a lot of work with school groups, community groups and the likes of Girlguiding, and the amount of comments that I have received either a…”

“Minister, you mentioned the issue of violence against women and girls in your opening remarks. That is something that is personal to me in terms of my lived experience, but also to my constituents in Lagan Valley. Twenty-four women have been killed in the last number of years and that includes one of my constituents. S…”

“I appreciate that. Just to close this out on one last point, we had a conversation about financial stability at the start of this. Collapse costs. It costs in monetary terms. It costs in economic opportunities lost. It costs in terms of people’s lives. I do not mean to put words in your mouth. Stop me if I am wrong; I …”

“Thank you, Secretary of State. It is lovely to see you in this setting. Minister, it was brilliant to have you in Lagan Valley last week. It would be completely remiss of the Alliance MP not to mention reform, considering that has been a key pillar of our policy and our party for a long time. I am only a new MP. I was …”

“Great, let’s do it.”

“Northern Ireland is considered one of the most dangerous places in Europe to be a woman—24 women have been killed in the last four years—but one of the most dangerous places for women and girls is online. I pay tribute to Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid, which is tireless in its advocacy of women. What are the Governme…”