Debate contribution: Foundations for a Better Future: Inclusion
Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on .
- MLA
- Ms Liz Kimmins
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 9 December 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Foundations for a Better Future: Inclusion
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5296118
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The Inclusion Foundation, which is also known as Including People, is about creating an infrastructure system that works for everyone, including older people, those with disabilities and those with sensory impairments. Accessible transport is not just about ramps or designated seating; it is about dignity, equality and enabling people to participate fully in society. By removing barriers, we open opportunities for employment, education and community life. Our initial focus has been on understanding the barriers that people encounter when accessing our services. That has enabled my Department to review existing functions and identify areas where programmes can be strengthened to better reflect individual needs. We are actively working to remove obstacles for older people and those who are deaf or disabled while addressing how active travel can feel intimidating for women and girls and how racial and ethnic minorities face risks when using public transport. We work very closely and collaboratively with the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC). Building on that commitment to accessibility, I recently announced my intention to bring forward legislation to tackle inconsiderate pavement parking across the North. A vehicle parked fully on a pavement creates serious and often dangerous barriers for pedestrians, forcing people to step out on to the road into oncoming traffic. That poses a safety risk, particularly for people with disabilities, older people, children and people pushing prams. This legislative action complements wider engagement efforts, such as our recent inclusive transport and travel conference, which brought together almost 140 people from various areas of that sector. Key messages included involving users from the outset, future-proofing infrastructure and improving parking enforcement. Stakeholders also called for better payment systems, real-time information and a more joined-up approach to public and community transport. To ensure that there is a central and continuous focus on the diverse needs of the people who are using our services, all DFI senior civil servants, along with other lead policy officials, have completed a disability equality training programme, which is delivered in partnership with Inclusion London —
337 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: 0.03 (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 (0.90).
- 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 | 0.04 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.90 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | 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 | 0.99 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.01 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:08 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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