Debate contribution: Budget Bill: Final Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Daniel McCrossan on .
- MLA
- Mr Daniel McCrossan
- Party at the time
- Social Democratic and Labour Party
- Date
- 20 February 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Budget Bill: Final Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4381256
Read the official Assembly record
Text
As I said yesterday — I will not rehash the many comments that I made — this is not the appropriate way to do business in the House. I hope that this is the last time that we have to deal with the important budgetary process in this way. That said, the financial situation that this place faces has slightly shifted since yesterday, with the substantial cash injection and commitment from the Irish Government, which, I am sure that Members will agree, is to be much welcomed. It is the largest commitment from the Irish Government for such projects. It will alleviate pressure on Departments, particularly the Department for Infrastructure, and will be welcomed, hopefully, by the Minister of Finance, who, I know, gave a joint statement earlier with her colleague in the South, Michael McGrath. I am sure that many people will be glad to see such a substantial investment and commitment from the Irish Government. There is €600 million for the A5, which, as many Members will know, I have spoken of passionately for many years. That brings the project a step closer. That substantial financial commitment will come as a considerable relief not just to the Minister of Finance but to many of my constituents and to the people of Derry and Donegal. As I have said on many occasions, that road does not discriminate: it claims lives every year. Many people have left home one morning to go to work, take children to school or do some local business and have never returned home to their family. Unfortunately, 70 such incidents have happened since 1998. Seventy people lost their lives, and 70 families were left with pain and devastation. No money or price can be put on a loss of human life. Colleagues in my constituency and neighbouring constituencies know too well the devastation and pain that has been caused. Today's announcement is greatly welcomed, but there is much more to be done. I hope that the Minister of Finance and her colleague Minister O'Dowd at the Department for Infrastructure will work collectively and proactively to ensure that the other funding is found for the A5, so that we can avoid any further delay, because delays cost lives. Ensuring that the project is delivered as soon as possible is in everyone's interest. Further to the announcements today, there has been a €50 million cash injection for Casement Park. It has been featuring strongly in the news over recent weeks and months. I would have hoped and wished that the Minister for Communities would have been a bit more excited about it today. He looked a bit glum, to be honest. A lot of people — Ulster Gaels and people associated with all forms of sport in Northern Ireland — will be excited by that announcement, because it is a tremendous opportunity. Sport unites people, brings people together and creates a sense of community. It is important that we ensure that whatever needs to be done to bring about the funding to deliver Casement is done. That includes the Minister of Finance, the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Minister for Communities knocking down the door of Number 10 and that of the Secretary of State to ensure that the commitments that have been made loosely in the press are followed through to ensure that Casement will be delivered. There is much wrong with our infrastructure, and we face many challenges. We need money to deliver on them, and only if we work collectively with one vision to ensure that that happens will it happen. I am more positive today, many Members will be glad to know, because an €800 million cash injection is a huge commitment to this place. It certainly will take and alleviate pressure from Departments and Ministers, and it has been welcomed across the board. I thank our colleagues in the South for that vote of confidence. Obviously, they have done it at a time when we are extremely positive about the institutions returning. Let us look to the future with some positivity, work together, deliver the A5 and Casement Park and deliver for our people.
695 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 (0.80).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.99).
- Subject area: Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies.
- 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 | 0.04 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.03 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.09 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.80 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.06 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.99 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.01 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.80 |
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.17 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.02 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 09:42 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.