Llun, 29 Ebrill 2024
The Assembly met at 12 noon (Speaker [Mr Poots] in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence.
I advise Members that Patrick Brown resigned as a Member of the Assembly for South Down with effect from 23 April 2024. As Speaker, I notified the Chief Electoral Officer of a vacancy in...
Last Monday, 22 April, a number of issues were raised with me about comments made during the debate on relationships and sexuality education. As is normal practice for my office, I have now...
If Members wish to be called to make a statement, they should indicate so by rising in their place. Members who are called will have up to three minutes in which to speak. There will be no...
Ba mhaith liom labhairt arís ar maidin ar chúrsaí atá ag titim amach in Gaza. Is deacair a chreidiúint go bhfuil an cinedhíothú ag dul ar aghaidh go fóill,...
I offer my congratulations to Limavady United Football Club, which has won the Playr-Fit premier intermediate league championship. That will see the club play in the championship next season,...
I speak in support of the Carers NI campaign for paid carers' leave. At first glance, such a policy could support 1,000 unpaid carers. People want to work, but we keep putting barriers in their...
I stand to pay tribute to one of the finest public-spirited citizens this place has ever seen. Stephen Grimason passed away at the weekend after a long illness. It followed an even longer career...
I wish to raise the lack of appropriate animal welfare in Northern Ireland. In the past three years, in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, we have seen over 1,000 incidents of animal cruelty....
The £25 million investment in childcare by our Minister of Finance, Caoimhe Archibald, now puts the wheels in motion to deliver high-quality and affordable childcare. Funding to kick-start...
I recognise and welcome the fact that, last week, the grounds here at Stormont played a part in this year's D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations. Last week, I was contacted by Patricia Pedlow of...
The first Member's statement that ever I made was on the situation in Gaza and the call for an urgent ceasefire, the immediate end of Israel's siege in Gaza, the immediate release of the hostages...
I rise to speak on behalf of many women in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area and across Northern Ireland who are deeply concerned about the reports of smear tests that have been...
I congratulate Larne FC on being crowned Irish Premiership champions for the second year in a row. Larne has been on an incredible journey, not only with its football club but as a town and a...
I want to raise the controversy that the Dublin Government have whipped up about unwanted migrants crossing into the territory of the Republic, it is said, from Northern Ireland. There is a rich...
I salute and acknowledge the important work done by the Freedom Flotilla, which is seeking to break the siege of Gaza and bring much-needed aid. It is an international aid flotilla with activists...
Resolved (with cross-community support): That Standing Orders 10(2) to 10(4) be suspended for 29 April 2024. — [Mrs O'Neill (The First Minister).]
Order, please, ladies and gentlemen. Can we just settle ourselves down? Thank you very much indeed. The next item of business is the Further Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges...
I beg to move That the draft Period Products (the Department for the Economy Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the draft Lay Magistrates (Eligibility) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
Mr Buchanan sought to withdraw his question after the deadline, and he is not in his place. I call Declan Kearney.
2. Mr Kearney asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on work to recruit commissioners to the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression. (AQO 339/22-27)
3. Mr Dunne asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on financial contributions from institutions to the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board's compensation...
4. Ms Bradshaw asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they will consider a public inquiry following the truth recovery design panel's report on ‘Mother and Baby...
5. Ms Kimmins asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the appointment process for a new Commissioner for Victims and Survivors. (AQO 342/22-27)
7. Mr Butler asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Troubles permanent disablement payment scheme. (AQO 344/22-27)
8. Mr Brett asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the Urban Villages initiative in North Belfast. (AQO 345/22-27)
T1. Mr O'Toole asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the First Minister agrees that we need an open border on this island, something that the SDLP has spent years arguing...
T2. Mr Baker asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of the fact that, tomorrow, we will hear a report on a recent meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council, whether the...
T3. Mr Brooks asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the discussions that the Executive Office plans to have with His Majesty’s Government to speed up the delivery of...
T4. Ms Bradshaw asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, following the earlier question about the amount that each institution is contributing to the redress scheme, whether the First...
T5. Mr Dickson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the Legacy Act’s imposed ending of Troubles-related inquests on 1 May 2024, which is causing serious and legitimate...
T6. Ms Sheerin asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the First Minister commits to the ending violence against women and girls strategy, in light of the news coverage in...
T7. Mr Robinson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, further to the question posed by his colleague David Brooks from East Belfast, whether, in the short term, the First Minister...
1. Ms Eastwood asked the Minister for the Economy whether he has met the Minister of Education regarding improving careers advice in schools. (AQO 353/22-27)
2. Mr Honeyford asked the Minister for the Economy to outline what action he is taking to address the challenges faced by the hospitality sector as a result of rising costs. (AQO 354/22-27)
3. Mr Beattie asked the Minister for the Economy to outline the role of Intertrade UK in the delivery plan of his Department's 10X Economy strategy. (AQO 355/22-27)
4. Ms Ní Chuilín asked the Minister for the Economy to outline how his Department will promote community wealth building. (AQO 356/22-27)
5. Mr McHugh asked the Minister for the Economy for an update on the 2028 UEFA European Football Championship bid. (AQO 357/22-27)
6. Mr Tennyson asked the Minister for the Economy whether his Department plans to introduce socialisation of grid connection charges. (AQO 358/22-27)
7. Mr McAleer asked the Minister for the Economy for an update on proposals to introduce a scheme to invest in the agri-food sector. (AQO 359/22-27)
8. Mr Harvey asked the Minister for the Economy to outline what discussions his Department has had with the Ministry of Defence to increase the number of contracts awarded to small to...
T1. Ms McLaughlin asked the Minister for the Economy what he would say to those who say that he is not aiming high enough and is not ambitious enough, in light of the fact that sector experts...
T2. Mr Middleton asked the Minister for the Economy what he is doing to support NICVA and other community and voluntary sector organisations that recently highlighted their concerns around the...
T3. Ms Forsythe asked the Minister for the Economy, with the tourism industry having huge, untapped potential for the Northern Ireland economy, to outline the steps that he plans to take in its...
T4. Miss Hargey asked the Minister for the Economy to outline the plans he has to extend Failte Ireland’s tourism brands in the North, taking advantage of the global impacts. (AQT 234/22-27)
T5. Mr Clarke asked the Minister for the Economy whether he has specific plans to introduce additional apprenticeship schemes. (AQT 235/22-27)
T6. Dr Aiken asked the Minister for the Economy to outline his proposals to replace the non-domestic renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme. (AQT 236/22-27)
Eóin Tennyson has given notice of a question for urgent oral answer to the Minister of Finance. I remind Members that, if they wish to ask a supplementary question, they should rise...
Debate resumed on motion: That the draft Lay Magistrates (Eligibility) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the draft Period Products (Department of Justice Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That this Assembly notes the high prevalence of loneliness in Northern Ireland, with almost one in five people feeling lonely at least some of the time and one in 20 identified as...
I beg to move That this Assembly recognises that tackling climate change is a global priority and, to be successful, must be grounded on the principles of fairness and a just transition away from...
