Debate contribution: Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill: Further Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Phillip Brett on .
- MLA
- Mr Phillip Brett
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 22 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill: Further Consideration Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5638625
Read the official Assembly record
Text
On behalf of the Democratic Unionist Party, I support amendment Nos 1 to 8, which stand in the name of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. At the outset, I join colleagues in paying tribute to victims and survivors for their continued engagement and bravery during the process. At the heart of amendment Nos 1 to 8 is truth recovery, justice and ensuring that what people have fought for for many years is finally delivered. I pay tribute to junior Minister Reilly and junior Minister Bunting, who have spent considerable time since Consideration Stage engaging with victims, survivors and officials to ensure that, today, we have the strongest possible legislation before the House. I also pay tribute to the Chair of the Executive Office Committee and Member for South Belfast, Mrs Bradshaw. Despite the difficulties of seeking consensus among the Committee on occasions, she chaired the proceedings diligently. I thank all my colleagues; while we did not always agree, we disagreed respectfully but with a shared aim of delivering the best possible outcome for victims and survivors. I particularly welcome amendment No 6, which stands in the name of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. When Mr Carroll proposed his amendment at Consideration Stage, I raised major concerns about it and the impact that it could have on not just GDPR but potential court proceedings. It is a lesson that, when concerns are raised about legislation, Members should reflect on them. The fact that officials have had to spend weeks undoing the damage that Mr Carroll's amendment did to the Bill is disappointing.
When I raised concerns about it, he simply dismissed them and said that they could be dealt with at Further Consideration Stage. I implore Members to remember that they are voting on legislation that will have real-world impacts, and we should be guided not by emotion but by fact. We will support amendment Nos 1 to 8.
322 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.05 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.70).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.04 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.06 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.70 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.05 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.36 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.26 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.24 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.10 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.02 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:07 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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