Llun, 8 Ebrill 2024
The Assembly met at 12 noon (Speaker [Mr Poots] in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence.
Members, I have five items to deal with before we start today's business, so I ask that you bear with me. First, I have written to the Princess of Wales expressing the good wishes of the Assembly...
A Matter of the Day has been requested by Stephen Dunne, and he has been given leave to make a statement on the cancer diagnosis of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales that fulfils the...
I rise to call urgently for a halt to ongoing work at Milltown Cemetery that risks disturbing the burial ground of thousands of babies, including my stillborn brother. It has been known for...
Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I congratulate the Armagh Ladies on their superb win yesterday against the Kingdom of Kerry in Division 1 of the National League final. It was their first...
Today, I want to bring the Assembly's attention to the loss of a vital autism service, Brighter Futures, in my constituency. It supported children aged 0-12 years presenting with autism. Upwards...
I rise today to note two recent events that I attended two weekends apart. They were to remember two significant people in our community who were murdered by the IRA. Yesterday, we attended...
I will touch on a broader political question and simply reflect on the events of the past 10 days. I do not mean the specific, clearly noteworthy and, to many people, shocking news developments...
I want to raise the issue of an increase in domestic violence. I have been on the record in speaking about this before, most recently around the strategy to end violence against women and girls....
The killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers last week in Gaza is another horrifying milestone in the conflict. Those men and women were heroes, putting themselves at risk to support...
I congratulate St Luke's Football Club's under-17 team on winning its fourth cup on Friday night. What makes that so special is that this is their first year competing as an under-17 outfit. St...
Ba mhaith liom an ráiteas seo a dhéanamh inniu le comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le peileadóirí, bainisteoirí agus lucht tacaíochta Dhoire, mé féin ina...
I also congratulate Derry on its league win. In just five short years, Derry has gone from Division 4 to Division 1 champions. What an incredible performance the weekend before last by our...
I offer a hearty comhghairdeas [Translation: congratulations] to Armagh Ladies Gaelic footballers, who had a victory yesterday in Croke Park in the league final against who else but the kingdom....
The Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 are a product of the tainted Donaldson deal. They require further comment and exposure. As we await the Secretary of State's directions to...
What kind of horror will it take for the Executive to condemn Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza? Over 33,000 people are dead, with eight being killed every hour. Generations upon generations of...
The next item of business is a motion on Committee membership. Resolved: That Mr William Irwin replace Mr Gary Middleton as a member of the Committee on Procedures; and that Mr Brian Kingston...
I beg to move That this Assembly recognises the ongoing need to build a genuinely shared future; expresses concern at the ongoing and severe costs, both social and financial, of continued social...
I call Maurice Bradley.
1. Mr Bradley asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to provide an update on the implementation of the high street task force report 'Delivering a 21st Century High Street'. (AQO...
2. Ms Brownlee asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on their engagements in the United States of America in March 2024. (AQO 206/22-27)
3. Mr Easton asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline what measures are in place to ensure that the central good relations fund is distributed to groups across all...
5. Ms Flynn asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on their strategic priorities. (AQO 209/22-27)
6. Ms Nicholl asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what engagement they have had in relation to the provision of housing for refugees in the past 12 months. (AQO 210/22-27)
8. Mr Donnelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the administrative preparations are complete for the appointment of a Commissioner for Victims and Survivors. (AQO 212/22-27)
9. Mr Harvey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the work of their Department to attract investment from new US businesses. (AQO 213/22-27)
T1. Mr O'Toole asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the issues raised in the motions that have been debated, including many tabled by her party, since the Assembly’s...
T2. Ms Kimmins asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, after welcoming this morning’s meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Armagh, the first since 2021,...
T3. Ms Eastwood asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the legislation for an inquiry into mother-and-baby homes. (AQT 133/22-27)
T5. Mr Chambers asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for the First Minister’s assessment of the economic value of today’s meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council....
T6. Mrs Erskine asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline what the Executive will do to ensure that the overspills that are affecting Lough Neagh are addressed, in light of...
T7. Mr Butler asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, after congratulating them on the start that they have made in the Executive Office, to outline the steps that the Executive...
T8. Mr Elliott asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Ulster canal, which the First Minister mentioned was on today’s NSMC agenda. (AQT 138/22-27)
1. Mr Dickson asked the Minister of Education what assistance is available to support schools to travel to Parliament Buildings for an official visit. (AQO 220/22-27)
3. Ms Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Education to outline how many people, via the Education Authority, are able to assess children and young people for ADHD and autism through the...
4. Mr Carroll asked the Minister of Education to outline what discussions he has had in relation to the provision of additional financial support to St Gerard’s School and Support Services....
5. Mrs Dillon asked the Minister of Education whether funding is available to commence the new build for Gaelscoil Uí Néill, Coalisland. (AQO 224/22-27)
6. Ms Nicholl asked the Minister of Education to outline what plans he will put in place to ensure that all children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will have access to...
7. Mr McHugh asked the Minister of Education for an update on plans for capital projects for schools in West Tyrone. (AQO 226/22-27)
8. Mr Chambers asked the Minister of Education whether his Department will prioritise a new build for Bangor Central Integrated Primary School. (AQO 227/22-27)
T2. Ms Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Education, following her previous question on what the EA can do to assess children with ADHD and/or autism or with an individual education plan...
T3. Mr Boylan asked the Minister of Education to outline the steps that his Department is taking to address class closures in special schools in Newry and Armagh, given that staff shortages have...
T4. Mr Clarke asked the Minister of Education whether he accepts that there are occasions on which many schools could more easily and cost-effectively procure goods and services than they can...
T5. Mr Carroll asked the Minister of Education whether he has submitted a bid, either to the Finance Minister or the Executive, for the funds for a pay and grading review for Education Authority...
T6. Mr Easton asked the Minister of Education whether he can give a cast-iron guarantee that Bangor Central Integrated Primary School will get a new building, given that he mentioned the Fresh...
T7. Ms Brownlee asked the Minister of Education, in relation to the pay and grading review for support staff, for an update on when those people will be paid. (AQT 147/22-27)
T8. Mr Gildernew asked the Minister of Education for an update on his opinion of, and his Department’s work on, composite classes. (AQT 148/22-27)
Debate resumed on motion: That this Assembly recognises the ongoing need to build a genuinely shared future; expresses concern at the ongoing and severe costs, both social and financial, of...
I beg to move That this Assembly recognises the failure of existing water and waste infrastructure to meet current and future demand; further recognises that existing funding models have...
