Debate contribution: Regional Balance Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on 8 September 2026.

MLA: Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 8 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Regional Balance Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5674472

Text

Sorry: I do not know where you read that in the Bill. I have not said that at all. The Bill is not about duplicating Belfast and creating multiple Belfasts: we know that different regions have different barriers and require different interventions. It is not about creating a mirror copy of anything. Fivemiletown will probably not attract the same level of FDI as a city in an urban region, such as one in the north-west city region. That is not what is needed. What Fivemiletown, for example, does need is good roads and access to good jobs. There are different barriers and different interventions. I absolutely understand what regional imbalance is: I have lived it and experienced it my entire life. I know regional imbalance very well. Thank you.
Will the Member take an intervention?

135 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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