Private Members' Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly am 12:45 pm ar 7 Mai 2024.
The following motion stood in the Order Paper:
That this Assembly recognises the importance of tourism to our economy; acknowledges that tourism is one of six areas of cooperation on the island of Ireland, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement; further acknowledges the untapped potential benefit of all-Ireland tourism to our local communities; notes that, in 2019, the Wild Atlantic Way tourism experience generated €1·9 billion and attracted 3·4 million overseas tourists to the nine counties that it currently covers; acknowledges that extending the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East and Ireland's Hidden Heartlands would create significant opportunities for our local tourism sector; and calls on the Department for the Economy to work with Tourism Ireland, Tourism NI and Fáilte Ireland to extend the major tourism brands across the island, and to work with local communities to develop sustainable tourism that enhances and protects the local environment and natural heritage, supports local businesses and creates jobs and prosperity. — [Mrs Mason.]
Motion not moved.
The motion is not moved. Therefore, we move to the next item of business.
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You will have seen that, before Dr Aiken left the Chamber, he approached my colleague, touched him on the shoulder and said:
"I don't hold that against you".
He then turned to me and said:
"But I do hold it against you".
Mr Speaker, I am entitled to make my comments in the Chamber. I think that that was in relation to what I said about him needing to consider his position. I would like you to make a ruling on whether that was appropriate language in the Chamber.
I will look at that in due course.
The Business Committee has arranged to meet at 1.00 pm today. I propose, therefore, by leave of the Assembly, to suspend the sitting until 2.00 pm, when the next item of business will be questions to the Minister of Finance and the first Member to speak will be William Irwin.
The sitting was suspended at 12.51 pm.
On resuming (Madam Principal Deputy Speaker [Ms Ní Chuilín] in the Chair) —