came from a philippine person came from a philippine background is absolutely irrelevant. the fact _ background is absolutely irrelevant. the fact is _ background is absolutely irrelevant. the fact is this is a migrant worker who has— the fact is this is a migrant worker who has come to northern ireland to help _ who has come to northern ireland to help this— who has come to northern ireland to help. this very day in my office there _ help. this very day in my office there will— help. this very day in my office there will be people complaining about— there will be people complaining about the health care services, social— about the health care services, social services and the rest of it, yet we _ social services and the rest of it, yet we also — social services and the rest of it, yet we also have in our community people _ yet we also have in our community people who — yet we also have in our community people who have come here to help and at _ people who have come here to help and at some very misguided think is some _ and at some very misguided think is some way— and at some very misguided think is some way it — and at some very misguided think is some way it is appropriate to attack them _ some way it is appropriate to attack them it_ some way it is appropriate to attack them it is— some way it is appropriate to attack them. it is not. it has to stop. the fact that across all of northern ireland _ the fact that across all of northern ireland we — the fact that across all of northern ireland we rely increasingly on our friends _ ireland we rely increasingly on our friends who come in overseas, who come _ friends who come in overseas, who come into— friends who come in overseas, who come into northern ireland to help make _ come into northern ireland to help make is— come into northern ireland to help make is a — come into northern ireland to help make is a much better place, is something _ make is a much better place, is something that we all as politicians should _ something that we all as politicians should he _ something that we all as politicians should be welcoming. and we need to explain _ should be welcoming. and we need to explain to— should be welcoming. and we need to explain to those who do not understand that this is a net benefit _ understand that this is a net benefit to all of us, and we must

make _ benefit to all of us, and we must make it — benefit to all of us, and we must make it so — benefit to all of us, and we must make it so. finally, there is an additional— make it so. finally, there is an additional issue i would like to add: _ additional issue i would like to add: the — additional issue i would like to add: the issue of anti—semitism. anti—semitism in many ways is the canary— anti—semitism in many ways is the canary in _ anti—semitism in many ways is the canary in the — anti—semitism in many ways is the canary in the coal mine for many of the issues — canary in the coal mine for many of the issues we have had. a year and a half ago _ the issues we have had. a year and a half ago i _ the issues we have had. a year and a half ago i spoke at a synagogue about— half ago i spoke at a synagogue about what i saw of concerns of anti—semitism rising across northern ireland _ anti—semitism rising across northern ireland and _ anti—semitism rising across northern ireland and across this island and the impact — ireland and across this island and the impact that was likely to have. there _ the impact that was likely to have. there is— the impact that was likely to have. there is no— the impact that was likely to have. there is no space in northern ireland — there is no space in northern ireland for anti—semitism, homophobia, racism, xenophobia, or anything _ homophobia, racism, xenophobia, or anything else. we all as politicians must _ anything else. we all as politicians must call— anything else. we all as politicians must call all of these out, and i would _ must call all of these out, and i would like — must call all of these out, and i would like to see the emphasis on anti—semitism being put there with other— anti—semitism being put there with other forms of horrific racism. thank— other forms of horrific racism. thank you _ other forms of horrific racism. thank you. i would first of all like to associate my party with the

unequivocal condemnation of the racial hatred we have seen on our streets in recent days, and i would also like to welcome members of the muslim community who are sitting in the chamber today, watching as speak. we owe them notjust a welcome but an apology for what they and their community have had to endure in this society and city over recent weeks and day. i say to them: sorry, but also, thank you for what your community and people of all communities who have come to the society have offered us and continue to offer as every single day. we are in your debt. mr speaker, when i became mla for south belfast, i had a choice about where to locate my constituency office. i am proud that my office is located in the middle of university street in the heart of one of the most diverse areas of not only the city or region but probably the whole island of ireland. there

are students and academics who study at queens who enhance and enrich that community. there are medical staff, doctors and nurses, working at city hospital right now to save lives. they were working on last saturday afternoon to save lives when a racist mob charged through that part of belfast and destroyed property, intimidating them and seeking to spread their hate. not only is that unacceptable, it is a profound, profound failure of those people to understand the contribution that migrants make to this society, specifically given the islam phobic context —— mac is xenophobic context those on saturday were campaigning. small businesses

have been in belfast for decades. one example is the chi hsu cafe on botanic avenue. —— is the sheesh cafe. the hate filled thugs rampaged the streets and sought to destroy his business and intimidate him and his business and intimidate him and his customers. mr speaker, what must we do now? in terms of response we need to do to things. we must ensure there is a robust policing response. it is clear that there are real and profound questions members of ethnic minority communities specifically, and the muslim community, have over the policing of saturday's events. it is also clear there has been a gradual erosion of confidence among members of the muslim community in the ability of the police to deal with hate crime. some of of depleted

resources, but what is now means is that the policing response needs to be robust, and they need to be swift in their prosecutions. i would like to hear more about what the police is doing and how the pbs seeks to bring forward prosecutions. we need robust action from the executive and i welcome the fact the executive is meeting today. we need to see clear and deliverable actions in the coming weeks, months, for the end of this mandate. we need an updated racial equality strategy. we have in waiting nearly a decade for one. if ever there was a moment to prove we need that updated racial equality strategy it is now. we also need stand—alone hate crime legislation and i welcome the commitment from the justice and i welcome the commitment from thejustice minister to progress that speedily. thirdly, on a national and international level, it is clear that we need robust action on the wild west of social media. those who spew hate on it and those who seek to derive power and influence from those spewing hate.

mr speaker, in recent years, we have almost lost sight of how enriching and glorious the increasing diversity of northern ireland has been, in part because we are a little bit hung up on the historic diversity and division we have inherited. wasn't it wonderful in recent weeks to see athletes from the space stand proudly as they won medals and dozens also proud? it shouldn't be harder to celebrate the new diversity we have in the society. the new diversity seeing people coming from all the world to enrich and contribute to the society. they are ours. not the hate filled yobs rampaging the streets of my constituency. i say in closing: to the muslim community and the wider minority community in northern ireland, we are notjust with you, you are ours, you are a part of us, you are ours, you are a part of us, you will continue to be a part of us, we will defend and support you. thank you. i

us, we will defend and support you. thank ou. ., us, we will defend and support you. thank ou. . ., us, we will defend and support you. thank yon-— thank you. i am glad we stand toaether thank you. i am glad we stand together today _ thank you. i am glad we stand together today in _ thank you. i am glad we stand together today in response - thank you. i am glad we stand together today in response to | thank you. i am glad we stand - together today in response to some of the worst days we have seen in our society recently. i think it is important we stand together to send a very strong message that we are united together against hatred, we are united against racism and is homophobia, and we send the message that love and hope will prevail over hate. we send a message to the racist thugs who have been attempting to destroy part of our community over recent days and weeks that we will not tolerate it. that what they are doing is wrong, and that they must stop. it is racist, sectarian, is homophobic, and it doesn't represent people —— it is islam phobic. we want to build a

better future for everybody. we must condemn what we have seen. to our ethnic minority communities, i want to say today: we support you, we stand with you, we defend your right to a life free from discrimination. we send solidarity to you, we value. we send solidarity to you, we value. we see the parts you pay deer play in our society, and you are a part of our society. we wanted to stay that way. you may cover society better place. and you are a part of ours. those who incited this violence won't win. those who have been responsible for criminal behaviour in recent days must be held to account by the psma and our justice system. there is an onus on us as leaders and communities and as elected representatives to call this out and sanded together. discrimination has no place in our

society. no one is born with hate in their hearts. it only exists and grows this through fear and ignorance and allowing misinformation to when. when those who know better don't challenge it and don't call it out, then you become compliant in allowing an argument which is wrong to win out. we have a responsibility as leaders in our areas we have a responsibility as leaders in ourareas to we have a responsibility as leaders in our areas to stand together against that and call it out. and we must send the message today that we are opposed to this, and that hope will win out over it.— will win out over it. thank you, mr seaker. will win out over it. thank you, mr speaker- i— will win out over it. thank you, mr speaker. i rise _ will win out over it. thank you, mr speaker. i rise to _ will win out over it. thank you, mr speaker. i rise to support - will win out over it. thank you, mr speaker. i rise to support today'sl speaker. i rise to support today's nation and to tell people from all ethnic minority communities now living in northern ireland that they are valued, that this is their home as much as anybody else's, and that

we will endorse and support three rebuilding —— are rebuilding that now has to be done. that's rebuilding goes beyond the cleaning up rebuilding goes beyond the cleaning up of destroyed properties and the restoration of vital businesses. it requires political action and the rebuilding of trust. there are people who have chosen to make northern ireland their home, and who have chosen to contribute to this society who now feel hurt, fearful, and isolated. they need reassurance that what we are here today is to provide support for them regardless of religion, ethnicity, or community background. i would support the contribution around anti—semitism. hatred is hatred. i would like to get to the substantive part of the nation. in the racial equality strategy 2015, 2025, there is a commitment to review the race relations order which is now 27 years old and entirely out of date.

the consultation on the draft order concluded injune 2020 3a months ago "14 months ago. the line from the executive office is that the responses and feedback are under review. and that there is a need to bring forward updated legislation in 2025 and 2026. given that its purposeis 2025 and 2026. given that its purpose is to provide the best possible legal protections against racism and towards a more equal society, which will include provisions for advancing a long—awaited ethnic equality monitoring, i would like to hear from the first minister today if there's any way this can be brought sooneras there's any way this can be brought sooner as per the motion. turning now to the racial equality strategy itself, it is needed to address issues which remain sadly current and even more urgent such as tackling race hate crime, racist bullying in our schools, and ensuring fair... the legislation was

drafted a decade ago and is now outdated given how much things have changed in that period. sadly, many for the worse. mr speaker, changed in that period. sadly, many forthe worse. mr speaker, i changed in that period. sadly, many for the worse. mr speaker, i would like to hearfrom for the worse. mr speaker, i would like to hear from the first minister in outlining what work is being taken in her department to ensure a seamless transition between the current strategy and the next. also, to hear a commitment that this will be developed with the community involved in the sector before reaching inadequately funded maximum impact. turning to the refugee integration strategy, it is almost 20 years since ofm dfm first committed to this. under the current iteration, it was consulted upon in late 2021 and early 2022 will stop it was supposed to run from 2022—27. she to the political impasse this has been delayed. it was the committee's understanding that this should be signed off in may 202a. however, the official position remains that that advised draft

strategy and dramatic delivery plans will be brought before the executive in due course, and i quote that. i would like to hear a firm date from the minister. as i said in my opening remarks, we now need to see a period of rebuilding. we must reflect on the vital work of a sector which are far too long has been undervalued. destruction of this nature, when it arises, sees community groups and voluntary organisations prominent in their response. they offer immediate assistance where the clean—ups, they offer support and advice for those impacted, and they continue to act as a consistent voice against racism and division. i will particularly pay tribute to the belfast islamic centre, the northern ireland muslim families association, and the many other ethnic minority groups operating in south belfast, for their tireless efforts this past week. mr speaker, at least three

psni officers have been injured in the line of duty in the last week. we must never normalise this. i give thanks for their service, especially those on the front line in south belfast over the past week. in closing, this is a moment for cohesion in this chamber. and for us to speak with a common voice. we all recognise there is a lot of work to be getting on with, and we are reassuring that members of this community are valued. in this chamber, we are saying that if you attack one member of our community, regardless of creed or colour, you attack all members of our community, and it is on that basis that we start rebuilding. thank you. today is an important — start rebuilding. thank you. today is an important opportunity - start rebuilding. thank you. today is an important opportunity for. start rebuilding. thank you. im— is an important opportunity for us all to stand together and condemn the horrendous images and attacks we have seen in our migrant communities over the last number of days. we

have to show leadership and ensure that we stand with them and will do everything that we can to protect them going forward. i stand here and notjust as a sinn fein health spokesperson but as a citizen who sees every single dayjust how much those people who have come from other countries enrich our society and contribute to it in so many ways. there are thousands of hard—working international doctors, nurses, surgeons, midwives, and many other health care professions within our health service who have dedicated and continue to dedicate their lives to our health and well—being. these people have left their home countries, their families, and their communities, to come here where they are saving lives and providing invaluable care to patients from all backgrounds or non—. just 18 months ago, general medicine in my local hospital was due to near collapse due to

shortages. due to choices by many overseas workers, health care professionals who had made the choice to come to ireland and work on our health service, those services have been stabilised and we must be and are eternally grateful to each and every one of them. the very least to people from minority ethnic communities deserve is respect, and to have safety and security as any other individual across the silent wood. islanders the land where our communities have embraced and welcomed many people from other communities over the years. —— ireland is the island. in the southern trust area, people described the fear as they watch on at the despicable scenes we have

seen over recent days. they are afraid to go to work, they are afraid to go to work, they are afraid to go home, and they are afraid to go home, and they are afraid to go home, and they are afraid to take their children out in public. i say to you: we stand with you, we value you. we have the utmost respect for the huge contribution that you make to our society every day. this is your home. you are all welcome here. racism and hatred is never acceptable. no ifs, no buts, and most importantly, no excuses. thank ou. it most importantly, no excuses. thank you it hasn't — most importantly, no excuses. thank you. it hasn't been _ most importantly, no excuses. thank you. it hasn't been my _ most importantly, no excuses. thank you. it hasn't been my intention - most importantly, no excuses. thank you. it hasn't been my intention to i you. it hasn't been my intention to speak in this debate today, as all that needs to be said has been said eloquently and sincerely by the previous contributors. i hope those who feel threatened are just frightened by the disgraceful events

of recent days —— i hope those who feel frightened by the disgraceful events of recent days can take comfort from... i was reluctant but grateful to be at the ulster hospital. injections, reps, and medication, with a feature of my stay. 25% of medical and nursing staff administering this treatment 20 47 were from overseas. i am sad but fully understand why some of these medical practitioners have expressed the view that they intended to take their skills elsewhere. i would appeal to all the overseas staff on our health and social care system that the community which you and your families and family members need you. you are completely one of us.

thank you. i want to begin by saying it is important we are here today and that my party is glad to support this. it is hard to find the words to describe what we've seen in the last week. the scenes of racist attacks, wanton destruction, outright hatred, have been appalling, disturbing, and plainly wrong. last weekend we saw nothing short of an explosion of hate on our streets, and it has shaken us all. i hope today is an opportunity for loud and unequivocal condemnation of that hate, and from every politician and from every party. that is the job a political leadership, and i hope we meet it today proactively. over the past week, far right agitators have sought to cruelly over the past week, far right

agitators have sought to cruelty and criminally exploit people, often teenagers, for their own teenage ends # racist ends. those agitators have shown the worst of our society. they have shown racist and fascist attitudes still exist. they made me embarrassed and ashamed, notjust that these elements still exist, but after the fact it is 2024 and we still have a society where these kinds of attitudes are allowed to fester and grow. where too many people still pointed to desperate people still pointed to desperate people coming across in boats and dinghies as the enemy. i know the vast majority of us know that it is inequality and not immigration that is the enemy. i was proud to stand at last night in the packed guildhall square and listen to our

mayor and first a citizen giving a powerful and passionate speech against right—wing agitators. it was against right—wing agitators. it was a message of hope, and it was delivered by our first black mayor. that gave me hope, because that is who we are, that is who northern ireland is, and we heard it loud and clear at those demonstrations. the barriers are not because of migrants or refugees, of whom we take a staggeringly low share, but it is because of policy failure. it has been clear that the housing crisis is not about migration but the devastatingly low levels of social housing being built. we need to get back to facts in this public debate, and it is thejob of back to facts in this public debate, and it is the job of all of us back to facts in this public debate, and it is thejob of all of us in this chamber to educate and inform,

never to demonise. in the face of this violence, many people are regularly asking themselves what kind of society we are billing for the next generation —— we are building for the next generation. i think it is also important to say that it cannot be the one where this behaviour can go unpunished or attitudes unchanged. neither can it be one where we allow criminal gangs to use their influence to cause racial hate. some of the silence that has taken place has been misguided and has been sinister. in short, it is my firm view the people of northern ireland deserve so much better than this, and i also know that those at recent events... there are others from more minority communities who will be less shocked. less shocked because they

have seen this are pervasive and perverse hate before. they see it in their daily lives. they will not be shocked, because they know the views that fuelled the hate have been given four years credence by governments. particularly across the world, governments more interesting in stances and solutions. there is no doubt rhetoric in recent years is coming home to roost, and the failure of government here is contributing to that crisis. i will give way. contributing to that crisis. i will rive wa . ~ , ., give way. with the member agree with me that the saka _ give way. with the member agree with me that the saka nature _ give way. with the member agree with me that the saka nature of _ give way. with the member agree with me that the saka nature of politics - me that the saka nature of politics has impacted the delivery of many of the strategies drawing a direct line to the problems were facing and that we must see the executive delivering on strategies not only announcing them. i

on strategies not only announcing them. ., ~ ., , on strategies not only announcing them. . ,, . , ., , them. i agree. i like many others welcome the _ them. i agree. i like many others welcome the recall— them. i agree. i like many others welcome the recall of— them. i agree. i like many others welcome the recall of this - them. i agree. i like many others. welcome the recall of this assembly as the right thing could happen. i know that we also will want to hear more than warm words. i want to hear today from the first deputy minister and see progress towards a swift agreement to the refugee integration strategy and an update on the racial equality strategy. we also want to see and will play our part in ensuring strong accountability in westminster on this issue, to ensure the new government there lived up to its in just way. the new government there lived up to its injust way. we the new government there lived up to its in just way. we will all have work to do. today, we are looking at the causes of racism and islamic failure and xenophobia everywhere where we find it, we need to call it out. i would like to hear the first minister's response and how they

have engaged with the psni in response to last weekend, and how it will deal with issues going forward, particularly given the possibility of more protesting this weekend. although we recognise the psni service... hasan your time is up. amnesty international —— service... hasan your time is up. amnesty international --- service... hasan your time is up. amnesty international -- your time is u- amnesty international -- your time is up apparent _ amnesty international -- your time is up apparent impunity. _ is up apparent impunity. studio: _ is up apparent impunity. studio: we _ is up apparent impunity. studio: we are - is up apparent impunity. studio: we are going . is up apparent impunity. | studio: we are going to is up apparent impunity. - studio: we are going to step is up apparent impunity. _ studio: we are going to step away from that special sitting of the northern ireland assembly and stormont. the house has been recalled following several nights of riots and disorder in northern ireland. as we have heard, there has been a cross—section of speakers across parties condemning the recent violence and suggesting possible solutions. we will now bring you

more reaction we have been getting from the prime minister, sir keir starmer. these are pictures of him in sully hull meeting muslim leaders there. the prime minister was speaking about the need to continue efforts to stop further far right riots in english towns and cities. he said: he will be tearing another cobra emergency meeting today. now, time for the weather with carol kirkwood. hello again. some of us started the day with some sunshine but a weather front coming in from the west will introduce more cloud and some rain and it will remain fairly murky for much of the day and western areas. heavy rain moving across northern ireland, northern england, eventually southern and central scotland. as we go through the day, rain will push east. after the bright start, looking at cloud building, splashes of rain arriving later. england and wales, quite windy, noticeably so.

temperatures in the 15 in the north, 23 in the south. still feeling humid. this evening and overnight, heaviest rain continues in scotland, clears england, pushes into the northern isles, but we have the dregs of another weather front in southern areas. here we will hang on to cloud and patchy rain and showers across the north and west. breezy humid night to come. tomorrow, we have the dregs of the weather front still across the south—east, that will clear, looking at sunshine and scattered showers, strongest winds tomorrow across the north, on the east especially so with exposure. one or two showers, but for much of the uk, going to be a day of bright spells, sunny spells, some showers. heaviest and most frequent in the north and the west. temperatures, 15—25, maybe 26 somewhere the south—east. the weekend, what is happening is we have a little system scooting

across wales on the southern half of england in the morning, taking in cloud and rain, some showers across the north, some drifting east in the course of the day as well. as the system continues to push east, later it will brighten up across wales and south—west england, but a lot of dry weather around and sunshine as well. temperatures, 15 in the north, 25 in the south, and still feeling quite humid. sunday and monday, for england and wales, it is going to be warmer, quite hot, actually, on monday especially, in the south—east, but for scotland and northern ireland, temperatures around average for this time of year.

thousands of anti—racism demonstrators gathered in towns and cities across england in counter—protest against the recent riots. a dawn raid in london sees more arrests after last

week's violent disorder, as a judge in liverpool jails two more men. there was very serious mob violence and each of you was at the forefront of lawless behaviour. in northern ireland, the stormont assembly is recalled to respond to violence in belfast. police came under attack in the city again last night, after several days of rioting. also on the programme... three upcoming taylor swift concerts in vienna have been cancelled over fears of an islamist attack. two people have been arrested. three, two, one, ignition. and lift off! from eight days to eight months — the american astronauts stranded in space after their spacecraft developed problems during a test mission. and in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news, more from paris where team gb�*s women easily win their heat — they're safety through to the final of the 4x100m relay.