Mawrth, 25 Mehefin 2024
The Assembly met at 10:30 am (Speaker [Mr Poots] in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence.
The usual rules apply.
I want to put on record the successful Cycling Ireland road national championships, with men's and women's time trials (TT) across all categories, including juniors, under-23s, elite and...
I rise to wish the Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Anne, a swift and full recovery after she was admitted to hospital with a minor head injury and concussion following an unfortunate...
I rise to bring to light an issue that many constituents have contacted me about. There is absolute frustration about a fence that NI Water has erected on the north Down coastal path. The coastal...
Last week, in my constituency of South Down, we celebrated the opening by the Schomberg Society in the kingdom of Mourne of a new Ulster-Scots centre in Kilkeel called the Hairtlan Hub, of which...
Public money, we are constantly told, is in short supply and scarce. I am sure that it is, and will continue to be so. Yet, while many in the House pay lip service to the need to prioritise...
Whilst it is true to say that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission remained silent through the worst excesses of human rights violations during the pandemic and on the coercive and...
At the weekend past, once again, activists from the Save Lough Neagh campaign gathered to make the case for urgent action to save the lough. I thank them for their tireless work. Despite all the...
I have received notice from the First Minister and the deputy First Minister that they wish to make a statement. Before I call the First Minister, I remind Members that they must be concise when...
I have received notice from the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs that he wishes to make a statement. As with the previous statement, I remind Members that they must be...
I have received notice from the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs that he wishes to make another statement. Before I call the Minister, I ask Members to continually rise in...
I beg to move That the draft Working Time (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the draft Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Search, Recovery of Cryptoassets and Investigations: Codes of Practice) Order (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved.
I beg to move That the Second Stage of the Child Support Enforcement Bill [NIA Bill 05/22-27] be agreed.
The next items of business are debates on two motions to approve statutory rules (SRs), both of which relate to social security benefits. I will ask the Minister to move the first motion. The...
Resolved: That the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 be approved. — [Mr Lyons (The Minister for Communities).]
We will start with listed questions to the Minister of Education.
1. Mr Elliott asked the Minister of Education for an update on his plans for a new build for Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. (AQO 652/22-27)
2. Mr K Buchanan asked the Minister of Education for his assessment of the performance of Northern Ireland's programme for international student assessment (PISA). (AQO 653/22-27)
3. Ms Mulholland asked the Minister of Education for an update on the first report on the operation of the Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (CSCA). (AQO 654/22-27)
4. Mr Tennyson asked the Minister of Education for an update on the end-to-end review of special educational needs (SEN). (AQO 655/22-27)
5. Mr Delargy asked the Minister of Education to outline the further opportunities to improve education outcomes for children and young people through the Shared Island Fund. (AQO 656/22-27)
6. Mr Chambers asked the Minister of Education to outline what assurances he can give that all pupils with special educational needs will receive a placement in their school of choice in the...
T2. Ms Flynn asked the Minister of Education for an update on the consultation process about providing additional SEN places at the site of the old Suffolk Primary School in West Belfast. (AQT...
T3. Ms Sheerin asked the Minister of Education, having written to him recently about Holy Family Primary School, Magherafelt, and having been contacted by its principal, whether he will consider...
T4. Ms Egan asked the Minister of Education, given that special schools are a lifeline for many children and summer schemes are a vital part of that, for an update on the funding for schemes in...
T6. Ms Brownlee asked the Minister of Education to give the House a further update on the budgetary pressures that his Department faces, which he touched on slightly in the previous answer. (AQT...
T7. Mrs Dodds asked the Minister, given that many people are concerned that the controlled sector is disadvantaged in that it does not have a specific body to look after its needs and given that...
T8. Mr Dickson asked the Minister of Education how he proposes to include children and young people in his recently announced consultation on school uniform policy and how their voices will be...
T10. Mr Harvey asked the Minister of Education to provide an update on industrial action by support staff. (AQT 450/22-27)
Questions 3 and 8 have been withdrawn.
1. Mr Irwin asked the Assembly Commission to outline the progress on improving energy efficiency in Parliament Buildings. (AQO 665/22-27)
2. Mr K Buchanan asked the Assembly Commission for an update on the roof repairs to Parliament Buildings. (AQO 666/22-27)
5. Ms Ní Chuilín asked the Assembly Commission whether it intends to provide enhanced facilities in Parliament Buildings to promote a healthy lifestyle. (AQO 669/22-27)
6. Mrs Mason asked the Assembly Commission for an update on plans to assist Members to improve personal security across all constituency offices. (AQO 670/22-27)
7. Mr Durkan asked the Assembly Commission for an update on efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of Parliament Buildings. (AQO 671/22-27)
9. Ms Brownlee asked the Assembly Commission to outline what work it will undertake to ensure there is a family-friendly working environment for people who work in Parliament Buildings. (AQO...
10. Mr McMurray asked the Assembly Commission whether funding is available for Members to ensure all constituency offices provide disability access. (AQO 674/22-27)
11. Ms McLaughlin asked the Assembly Commission whether negotiations on a new catering and cleaning contract will include discussions on pay enhancements for staff. (AQO 675/22-27)
In conjunction with the Business Committee, the Speaker has given leave to Robbie Butler to raise the matter of traffic chaos affecting villages in Lagan Valley. I call Robbie Butler, who has up...
