Debate contribution: USA-NI250

Debate contribution by Mr Matthew O'Toole on 17 February 2026.

MLA: Mr Matthew O'Toole
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 17 February 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: USA-NI250
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5394817

Text

Minister, I strongly support celebrating the contribution of people from all over this island, including the Scots Irish — the Ulster Scots — to the United States. However, it is important to be clear on a couple of historical points. No one migrated from Northern Ireland, because it did not exist in the 18th century. That is not to diminish the contribution of those who left Ulster at that time. It is also true to say that the Ulster Scots who made their place in the United States and built that republic free from the Crown, including people such as Andrew Jackson, whose home in Tennessee I have been to; Chester A Arthur, whose home you went to recently in Antrim —

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

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 3128/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

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