Debate contribution: Age Discrimination (Goods, Facilities and Services) Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Ms Carál Ní Chuilín on 20 October 2026.

MLA: Ms Carál Ní Chuilín
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 20 October 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Age Discrimination (Goods, Facilities and Services) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5798723

Text

Those are the things that people do not normally think about when they consider legislation. That is where the lived experience of constituents, through their elected reps, enriches us all and results in better legislation. There are existing laws that would result in a drop in the levels of discrimination and inequality if they were applied properly. If section 75 duties were being fully implemented, we would not have such a big Bill: we would have a Bill of sorts but it would not be so big. That is not your fault: it is down to how the system here works. Equally, some pieces of legislation affecting older people and children have been blocked. Access to human rights legislation was blocked. Access to equality legislation through a bill of rights was also blocked. People are not only disheartened, but —. While we are here to make legislation, hopefully we are in a space where we can try to work through reasonable and reasoned amendments, because we need to get something in place. I am in my 60s. My friends and I know that if you are trying to get home insurance or extend or shorten your mortgage, your age will be the first barrier. Your financial management or savings do not matter. It does not even matter whether you are supporting family: your age seems to be the biggest blockage. That is a problem, especially when the British Government are telling us all that we are going to have to work longer. You are expected to work longer and pay taxes, which is appropriate, but you are not allowed access to services due to your age, regardless of how long you have worked or how much you have paid. There is something else that I am particularly concerned about when it comes to unintended consequences of previous work. You mentioned young girls getting access to contraception and health and social care, and menopause and perimenopause are issues that have been talked about. When I grew up, we did not even talk about cancer, let alone women's health issues. We certainly did not talk about suicide or mental health. Those were things that other people spoke about. There is legislation coming through that will hopefully support women who are finding things difficult. Equally, there has been recognition of baby loss. There have been some improvements. Those are good things to have, particularly when you look at getting access to goods, facilities and services. However, the need for access to health and social care must be recognised in the workplace. For example, workers are still reluctant to ask for time off to go to a fertility clinic, an antenatal clinic, a menopause clinic or whatever it is. If time off is required due to osteoporosis, muscular problems, a need for occupational therapy, there is more of an acceptance. That is an attitudinal issue more than a legislative one. However, when legislation such as this comes through, it makes it easier for the people who are coming behind us. Effectively, that is what this is all about. Hopefully, none of us are about pulling the ladder up behind us. That is not what we are about. Certainly, one of the issues for me concerns safeguards and protections. There is a lot in the Bill about "age-based distinctions". The devil will be in the detail. For example, we know that younger people pay more for car insurance. Some insurance companies are working in such a way that, even when young people are saying things like, "I will put the black box in my car and take all the restrictions to show that I am a good and safe driver", they are still paying well above the odds. That may be outside the scope of the Bill, but the premiums that we are paying here compared with elsewhere are disgraceful.
Yes, certainly.

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

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