All of Mr Brian Kingston’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
As a member of the Committee for Communities, I welcome the Second Stage of the Sign Language Bill. I commend the Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, for advancing the Bill, which completes the set of four Bills that, in May of last year, he committed to introducing. The introduction of a sign language Bill was also a…
I thank the Minister for his answer and the steps that have been taken. When does he think that Northern Ireland can align with NHS England standards, where children newly added to the waiting list are operated on within four to six months?
Mr Kingston asked the Minister of Health, returning to the issue of the unacceptably long waiting list for paediatric percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) surgery in Northern Ireland, what measures have been taken over the past year to reduce that waiting list and whether a measurable improvement has been made.
I speak as a DUP member of the Committee for Communities and the Committee for the Executive Office. I take the opportunity to welcome the Finance Minister to his new post. The three Supply resolution motions before us today relate to the finances for the last financial year, this financial year and the next financial…
Does the deputy First Minister agree that Ministers across all Departments have been getting on with decision-making and have made several key decisions during her past year in office?
We are all, in the Assembly, guardians of the public purse. We have a responsibility to expose and end any wilful fraud of public funds. I commend the Minister for his determination on the matter to ensure that the welfare system is not abused. The Minister may have just answered the question that I wished to ask, but…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the SDLP for proposing the motion highlighting the consequences of the universal credit five-week wait for claimant households across Northern Ireland. I propose the DUP amendment to that motion. The challenge that poverty presents to households across Northern Ireland is huge.…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Carers play a vital role in our society. We recognise how challenging that role is for full-time carers and for carers who also work or are trying to gain employment. Across Northern Ireland, we have more than 220,000 people providing unpaid care for a sick or disabled family member,…
We should record our debt to the Retired Police Officers' Association for taking the court challenge to the office of the Police Ombudsman and revealing that she has exceeded her powers in repeatedly finding the vague term "collusive behaviour" when, in fact, she found no evidence of actual collusion. Will the Justice…
The Minister will be aware that Spirit AeroSystems is a major employer in Northern Ireland and that there is potential interest from other companies. Will the Minister do all that she can to ensure that the entire operation here will have a viable future?
I thank the Minister for his answer. It reiterates what we have heard previously, which is that the uncertainty over the rapid transit scheme is holding up the progress of the Clifton Street public realm scheme. Will the Minister update me on two nearby schemes: the lower Oldpark Road public realm scheme and the lower…
Motion Amendment · Private Members' Motion · to “Support for Carers”
Support for Carers - Amendment 2 Leave out all after ‘unpaid care;’ and insert: ‘acknowledges that the increase in the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit to the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage from April 2025, provided for by the UK Government’s Autumn Budget, does not go far enough; calls on…
Motion Amendment · Private Members' Motion · to “Impact of the Universal Credit Five-Week Wait”
Impact of the Universal Credit Five-Week Wait - Amendment 2 Leave out all after ‘illegal money lenders;’ and insert: ‘recognises the importance of retaining the two-week run on legacy benefits, providing advance payments, and delivering an upfront, non-repayable grant for families to cover basic living costs during…
The night-time economy and offering of any city is a vital indicator of its economic, social and cultural wealth. Whether one partakes of the night-time economy rarely or regularly, it is a measure of a thriving and enjoyable city. It is also an important source of employment through bars, restaurants, takeaways,…
I thank the Minister for his answer. In his earlier answer, I think that he was referring, on the issue of resources, to the £23 million household waste recycling collaborative change programme. I looked that up on the internet: it was launched in 2019 with a three-year timescale. Is that still active? If capital…
Mr Kingston asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, for a timeline for the publication of the outcome of and recommendations arising from his Department's 2024 Rethinking our Resources consultation on driving forward recycling, to which he referred in an earlier answer to Mr Phillip Brett, in…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I can point to many examples of the DUP's strong record of delivery in the housing Ministry, and its actions speak louder than words. The DUP has been supportive of the co-ownership scheme. Our Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, increased the upper value limit for qualifying…
The DUP has reiterated the need for a period of restoration and prolonged political stability prior to the advancement or agreement of any proposals for reforming the political institutions. That is not to say that we are opposed to improving how devolution works from day to day; as has been the case since 2007, we…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I commend the Minister for his welcome announcement. He has already highlighted the diversity in the controlled schools sector. Many schools in the sector are actively involved in shared education initiatives with other schools, including schools from other sectors. Will the Minister…
Motion Amendment · Private Members' Motion · to “Support for First-Time Buyers”
Support for First-Time Buyers - Amendment 1 Leave out all after 'regret' and insert: 'that the challenges facing first-time buyers have intensified, with rising house prices and rental costs creating significant barriers for prospective homeowners; acknowledges that increasing housing supply and creating affordable…
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail the number of policing hours that have been spent at hospital Emergency Departments in the (i) North Belfast; (ii) South Belfast; (iii) East Belfast; and (iv) West Belfast, area in the last six months.