Member's statement: Regional Balance
Member's statement by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on .
- MLA
- Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
- Party at the time
- Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Date
- 8 June 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Regional Balance
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5600188
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I take this opportunity to mark an important milestone in a piece of legislation on which I have been working for some time. Today, my regional balance Bill will complete its First Stage, formally beginning its journey through the legislative process. The Bill has been born out —.
Sorry.
May I talk generally about regional balance?
Thank you. For too long, communities across Northern Ireland have experienced vastly different economic outcomes. As a public representative from Derry, I know that only too well. We see it in employment rates, economic inactivity and health outcomes. We also see it in the distribution of investment in our public services. While every region has strengths and potential, the reality is that that opportunity remains unevenly spread. That is not good enough. I wish to ensure that regional balance is no longer treated as an aspiration but becomes a core consideration in government decision-making. I am trying to make this not about the Bill. It would require every Department to have due regard to regional balance in their policies, strategies and public services. It is about recognising that every community deserves a fair opportunity to succeed and that the Government have a responsibility to consider the regional impact of decisions that they take. I firmly believe that a stronger and more prosperous Northern Ireland is one in which growth is shared more fairly and where every part of our region can realise its full potential.
241 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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