Llun, 10 Mehefin 2024
The Assembly met at 12 noon (Speaker [Mr Poots] in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence.
The usual rules apply for Members' statements.
I want to reflect on what was a history-making weekend for Irish athletics. People saw the jubilant scenes on Saturday as our four-by-four mixed relay team won European gold. I pay tribute to...
I rise to condemn the vandalism that led to the destruction of a memorial plaque to Paddy the Pigeon in Carnlough over the weekend. During World War II, the RAF used many pigeons, which were...
Today marks the start of Bike Week 2024. I certainly have an interest in cycling, though not a pecuniary one. Quite simply, cycling is good for you. It helps those who cycle to meet the...
Today, we recognise Infant Mental Health Awareness Week. We are reminded of the crucial importance of providing a strong foundation for mental well-being from the earliest stages of life. I thank...
I rise to talk about the emergency department at Altnagelvin Hospital. I welcome the opening of the minor injuries unit at Altnagelvin, which has helped to alleviate some of the pressures. In...
Last month, I asked the Health Minister how many people had been deregistered by their dentist in the past six years. I asked that question because I was seeing a worrying trend in my...
"I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in" is not a statement that you would associate with the Olympic Stadium in Rome or the European Athletics Championships, but, oh my God, well done,...
I speak as chair of the all-party group (APG) on diabetes. While I am not diabetic, my wife has been a type 2 diabetic for many years. Today marks the start of Diabetes Week, the awareness week...
On D-Day, scores of men went from these shores to Normandy to fight the tyranny of Nazi occupation. The debt that we owe to those men is immeasurable. Those from these shores who fought against...
Like other Members, I pay tribute to the achievements of Ciara Mageean, who is a Portaferry local, which is in the constituency of Strangford that I am proud to represent. Building on her...
My statement is a follow-on to Mrs Erskine's comments about the D-Day celebrations, but I want to look at a more positive aspect. Obviously, a great sacrifice and commitment was made by those who...
The need for social housing here is profound. For years, it has been warned that failure to get a grip of the crisis would lead to spiralling homelessness and poverty that would prove difficult,...
Today marks the beginning of Men's Health Week. Men's Health Week gives us the opportunity to raise awareness and promote better health among men. One of the key issues that needs to be...
In recent days in most of Europe, we saw the election of a foreign Parliament. The relevance of that foreign Parliament to us in Northern Ireland is that it has control over 300 areas of law that...
I have received notice from the Minister of Finance that she wishes to make a statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that they must be concise in asking questions.
I beg to move That the Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment, Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the Occupational Pension Schemes (Governance and Registration) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the Occupational Pension Schemes (Master Trusts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the Benefit Cap (Annual Limit) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the Child Support (Management of Payments and Arrears) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 be approved.
I beg to move That the Child Support Fees (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
It is time for questions to the Executive Office. We will start with listed questions. Questions 2, 3, 6 and 9 have been withdrawn.
1. Ms Nicholl asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline what plans they have to widen the scope of the central good relations fund. (AQO 540/22-27)
4. Mr McGuigan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline when the consultation will commence with victims and survivors of mother-and-baby homes on the establishment of an...
5. Mr Kearney asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the work progressed under the auspices of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC). (AQO 544/22-27)
7. Mr Delargy asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the timeline for the appointment of an Irish language commissioner. (AQO 546/22-27)
10. Mr O'Toole asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on when a Programme for Government will be published. (AQO 549/22-27)
11. Mr Sheehan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the impact of the Communities in Transition (CIT) programme in west Belfast. (AQO 550/22-27)
13. Mr McNulty asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they have introduced measures to ensure that the Executive will be working to its maximum capacity during the Westminster...
14. Mr Tennyson asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline their role in driving public service transformation across the Executive. (AQO 553/22-27)
15. Ms Egan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to give an update on the appointment of a permanent secretary to the Executive Office. (AQO 554/22-27)
T1. Mr O'Toole asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given that, this Friday, the first match of the European Football Championship 2024 will take place in the Allianz Arena,...
T2. Mr Allen asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to confirm the Executive's priorities and whether a Programme for Government will robustly measure those priorities. (AQT 362/22-27)
T3. Ms Sheerin asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the recent Ulster Bank survey that showed the sharpest rise in orders for the first time in two years, to join her in...
T4. Mr Mathison asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the actions that are being taken to progress the recommendations of the 2021 report of the Commission on Flags,...
T5. Ms Nicholl asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, having noted that, last week, a mother and her daughter made the news because of a racial hate crime in her constituency, with...
T8. Ms Á Murphy asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to join her in congratulating Ciara Mageean on her fantastic achievement in winning her gold medal, which many in the...
T9. Mr Frew asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to send a signal today that they acknowledge the vaccine injured and bereaved community, who have been waiting since February for a...
T10. Mr Sheehan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to give an update on Programme for Government preparations and commit that it will be debated in the Chamber and published for...
We now move to questions to the Minister of Health. It is your first day; the standard has been set.
1. Ms Bradshaw asked the Minister of Health for an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the independent review of children’s social care services in Northern...
3. Mr Frew asked the Minister of Health to outline the total cost of the COVID certification scheme in Northern Ireland. (AQO 557/22-27)
4. Mr Durkan asked the Minister of Health whether he will engage with the Minister of Finance to ring-fence funding, generated by the soft drinks industry levy, to address health-related...
5. Mr Allister asked the Minister of Health to outline why data is not published in relation to abortions in Northern Ireland, similar to the statistics published for England and Wales. (AQO...
6. Mrs Dodds asked the Minister of Health when will he bring forward plans for transformation of the health service. (AQO 560/22-27)
T1. Mr McGrath asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to publish data on the number of people in each trust area who are living with the various types of dementia. (AQT 371/22-27)
T2. Ms Nicholl asked the Minister of Health, after wishing him well in his new role, whether he has any plans to reduce the bowel cancer screening age to 50, in line with the UK National...
T3. Ms Forsythe asked the Minister of Health to consider a follow-up commitment to access and audit information relating to the mental health crisis in Northern Ireland, in light of the answer...
T4. Mr Sheehan asked the Minister of Health whether he has any plans to introduce an individual duty of candour, which was one the key recommendations from Justice O'Hara's inquiry into the...
T5. Dr Aiken asked the Minister to provide an assessment of the impact that the Budget 2024-25 will have on his ability to deliver pay awards in the 2024-25 period. (AQT 375/22-27)
Jim Allister has given notice of a question for urgent oral answer to the Executive Office. I remind Members that if they wish to ask supplementary questions, they should rise continually in...
