Member's statement: Disability Discrimination: Andy Allen
Member's statement by Mr Robbie Butler on .
- MLA
- Mr Robbie Butler
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 23 September 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Disability Discrimination: Andy Allen
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4543636
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I echo the frustrations felt by the many disabled people, including my colleague Andy Allen MLA, who bravely continue to speak out against the inequalities that persist in our society. It is outrageous that, in 2024, basic rights and access that most of us take for granted are still denied to disabled individuals. It is a stain on those who profit from their activities whilst neglecting their responsibilities to all their customers. Take airlines, for example. Time and time again, we see them make headlines for that very reason. It is unacceptable that, despite adequate notice of the need for assistance, my colleague Andy was told that he could not fly from Birmingham to Belfast yesterday, that his luggage would be removed from the flight and that the plane would take off without him. That is simply not good enough. He has had to spend time away from his family and the Chamber. The fact that such situations occur even when clear communication has been made shows how deeply flawed airlines' systems are. Disabled people deserve to be treated with the same respect, dignity and consideration as everyone else. Andy's experience should challenge each of us to demand better, not just from airlines but from every service provider and institution. I commend Andy for raising the issue publicly, and I hope that his doing so encourages other disabled people to do the same, but, as legislators, we must do more. We cannot allow those inequalities to persist. I look forward to the disability strategy, which, I hope, will be introduced during the mandate, being a crucial step towards addressing the barriers and injustices that disabled people still face today. The time for change is long overdue, Let us ensure that it finally happens.
293 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 (0.73).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.97).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- 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 | 0.09 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.06 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.73 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.05 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.97 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.03 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 1.00 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:03 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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