Debate contribution: Bonfire Regulation

Debate contribution by Mr Mark Durkan on 16 September 2025.

MLA

Mr Mark Durkan

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

16 September 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Bonfire Regulation

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5111464

Read the official Assembly record

Text

A decade ago, during my time as Environment Minister, I tried hard to bring forward licensing proposals to deal with bonfires. It was about striking a balance, protecting communities from the very real dangers of these fires while respecting the cultural significance that they still obviously hold. I stand over that principle, but culture must never be a shield for lawlessness or a licence for hate. The political will was not there 10 years ago, and I fear — it is obvious — that this place has gone backwards since. What we witnessed this summer in many areas was not culture but an orgy of hate, of racist and sectarian displays and of despicable personal threats. I offer my support and solidarity to those whose names or images appeared on bonfires. I have been there myself, so I know that it is not pleasant. Such displays hold no place in our society. Homes and hospitals were put at risk. The environment was choked with toxic fumes. That cannot be defended. It is neither tradition nor something to be celebrated. Part of the problem — the elephant in the room — is that our leadership parties continue to peddle division. They stoke hatred when and because it suits them. They thrive on tribal tension, while ordinary people are left to live with the consequences of intimidation, fear and violence on their doorstep. Culture is not something to be feared, nor is it something to be weaponised. It is something that should be shared and respected. The motion rightly notes that FICT set out a framework to deal with the issues, but the point to make is that there is still no implementation plan. When we — the SDLP in opposition — sought to amend the motion to include what, I believe, was a very practical call for the First Minister and the deputy First Minister to bring forward a full FICT implementation plan, the amendment was not accepted. What we are left with is a motion that calls on no one to do anything. Mr Beattie referred to its vagueness. That absolves Ministers of responsibility. Paula Bradshaw rightly identified the collective nature of that responsibility. I fear that debates such as this do not do anything to tackle sectarianism. Rather, they serve only to stir the tribal pot.

Absolutely. Any implementation plan would therefore have to take the new legislative requirements into consideration. In the meantime, good, decent people, who just want to celebrate their traditions, however they do so, are being let down by a lack of leadership.

I will not. I have only an extra minute, Pádraig. Residents who want only to live in peace and safety are forced, year after year, to contend with bonfires that put lives at risk. The SDLP would prefer to see more alternatives, and fair play to those communities that offer so much in that regard. Ultimately, and I make no bones about it, we would like to see an end to bonfires. Clearly, we are nowhere near there yet. I do, however, recognise their significance, particularly in some of our most deprived areas. They are bound up with identity, a sense of belonging and community pride, as odd as it sounds, but let us not dismiss that pride, especially among young men who spend weeks and months designing and building those structures that, before they are marred with grotesque images and flags, are pretty impressive. That takes skill and graft. For them, the bonfire is a project: a claim to belonging in communities where opportunities are scarce. Let us therefore eradicate the harmful elements of bonfires: the pollution; the damage to the environment; the damage to community relations; and the race to the bottom. Rather than condemn all those young people, harness their skills. Create apprenticeships and employment opportunities. Give them purpose, pride and a stake in their future, because, let us be real, that cohort of young people has been let down time and time again, and they continue to be by this Executive, leaving them ripe for exploitation by unsavoury criminal elements. Today cannot be just about what has not been delivered. It also has to be about what we are going to do, although the motion does not set out what exactly that should entail. We want a society in which culture is celebrated with respect, not weaponised with hate. Culture should bring people together, not drive them apart. That requires action and real political will across the Chamber.

We might think that no one watches what happens here, but what happens here filters out and across our communities, so I say this to the leadership parties: stop hiding behind non-binding motions and excuses, and start leading.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:15 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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