Debate contribution: Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill: Further Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Gerry Carroll on .
- MLA
- Mr Gerry Carroll
- Party at the time
- People Before Profit Alliance
- 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 5638796
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for that. They can be challenged, but anything can be challenged. However, her points are on the record. The Member for North Belfast — he is still here — said that my amendments changed the Bill. The Member knows that amendments are designed to change Bills, and it happens in most legislative processes. There were 150-odd or whatever it is amendments tabled on the Justice Bill. If the Member is against amending Bills, what is the point of Consideration Stage and Further Consideration Stage? Do we do away with those stages if he is against amendments that are designed to strengthen legislation? Through the Speaker, I will correct the Member. There is another stage for consideration. Standing Order 37A mentions an Exceptional Further Consideration Stage. It is rarely used, but it exists if a Minister needs to bring technical amendments. I will correct the record for the Member on that. The other Member for Lagan Valley is not here. He was honest about his comments and cited cost as the reason why he would not back my amendments.
I thank the Member. It may have been used once or twice, but it exists and can be used. The Member for Lagan Valley mentioned cost. I disagree with using costs as an excuse not to back policy, especially when we are righting historical wrongs that relate to institutional abuse. However, he was, at least, honest, when others were not. You cannot put a financial cost on justice and doing the right thing, which is what my amendments are intended to do.
One second. I totally agree with everything that the Chair of the Committee said about those being left out because of the posthumous date, but the same applies to the workhouse victims and the people who were abused by an institution. Also, there is no rule that the redress scheme has to be admissions-based with no further eligibility requirements. I give way to the Member.
329 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: 0.06 (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 (0.78).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues.
- 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 | 0.05 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.04 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.05 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.78 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.06 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.45 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.23 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.22 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.07 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.02 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:08 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.