Member's statement: Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week
Member's statement by Mr Peter McReynolds on .
- MLA
- Mr Peter McReynolds
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 28 April 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4913847
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise as an MLA for East Belfast and someone living with multiple sclerosis (MS) to mark MS Awareness Week. MS affects over 5,000 people in Northern Ireland, and we continue to have one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. Despite that, access to neurology services remains limited, with many patients regularly facing delays in their diagnosis and, ultimately, treatment. I remember that, when I was diagnosed in 2013, I was kept in the hospital by my consultant not as a precaution but to speed up access to an MRI, because, had I been sent home, who knows when I would have received that crucial assessment of lesions on my brain? Unfortunately, research carried out by the MS Society shows that, while many are aware of the condition, around three quarters of respondents said that they know only a little or not much about how it affects people. That is despite nearly half of respondents personally knowing or having known someone who has lived with MS. That can add to misunderstandings and misconceptions about the condition. That is why this year's national theme is "MS conversations". It is about encouraging people to start conversations about their MS and to raise awareness. When I was diagnosed, I was told that, once you have met someone living with MS, you have met one person living with MS. That demonstrates that, as a neurological condition, it affects everyone differently. I am thankful that it does not limit me in carrying out the work that I do for my constituents every day or in standing in the Chamber today. The first Northern Ireland multiple sclerosis research hub, which will be dedicated to tackling MS, will be launched at Queen's University this evening. It will increase capacity in MS research and create opportunities for those interested in building a career in researching MS, training and retaining the future generations of researchers in Northern Ireland. It will benefit those around the world who have been or may in the future be diagnosed with the condition. I again thank the MS Society for the help that it has given to me since my diagnosis and to thousands of other individuals and family members over the years. I encourage all Members to learn about MS and to increase their awareness and understanding of it. Together, we can tackle the stigma that is associated with the condition and how it affects people in various forms in Northern Ireland.
411 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: 0.02 (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).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- 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 | 0.03 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.52 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 12:27 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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