All of Dr Caoimhe Archibald’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
At the meeting of the FISC the week before last, as I said in my earlier answers, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury indicated that we would have substantive clarity about the total amount of Barnett consequentials that we are getting for the rest of the year at the Budget on 30 October. Previous indications from…
The marriage and civil partnership Bill is earmarked as a year-2 Bill, so it will be introduced during the 2025-26 session. I hope that the Bill will be ready for consideration before then and that we might be able to introduce it earlier than currently scheduled. Depending, obviously, on competing drafting resources,…
Members will be aware of my intention to bring forward a Bill to amend the current law on marriage and civil partnership. Those important reforms will bring belief marriage within the statutory framework and increase the minimum age for marriage and civil partnership from 16 to 18. I am pleased that the Executive…
I do not have the information that the Member has sought in front of me, but, if she wants to write to me about that specific issue, I am happy to correspond with her.
I fully agree. The only issue that needs to be discussed with the LCC is ending paramilitarism and the anti-community criminality that criminal gangs engage in. The recent meetings between DUP Ministers and the LCC provide political cover and implicit justification to those groups. That is unacceptable.
No, I do not think that it is appropriate to meet the LCC to discuss issues of public policy. We are 26 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, so there is no place in this society for paramilitary groups. There is no role for paramilitary groups. There is no excuse for the continued existence of those groups.…
LPS is aware that the ongoing works in Foyle Street affect up to 29 properties and is dealing with applications from two businesses in relation to those works. We encourage businesses to engage with LPS. I am happy for my officials to work with council officials to see what the impact is.
I think that the Member has corresponded with me on the issue. I recognise that public realm works sometimes inconvenience businesses, so I will consider cases for relief on their individual merits. Members should be aware that that will always be done in the context that I outlined to Mr Donnelly: when we award…
I do not think that my officials or I said that. We said that we wanted to give Departments clarity on their funding allocations as quickly as possible so that they could make decisions or not make decisions that would be detrimental to the services that they deliver. That is why there was an urgency around June…
I was going to say, "In October". When I met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the Financial Interministerial Standing Committee (FISC) the week before last, there was an indication that, rather than having to wait until January to get clear confirmation of Barnett consequentials for the year, as is usual,…
I have not been invited to go to London next week, but I would be happy to attend with them. As I said to Deborah, I will meet the Mid South West growth deal partners again this week. We all have avenues that we can use for lobbying, and I will use my relationship with Treasury.
The strong collective message that we have been able to send, as an Executive and as parties across the board, on the need to unpause the funding commitment to the growth deals has been a real strength. The deal partners have been engaging directly with the NIO — I think that they met the British Secretary of State…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 7 and 12 together. I am continuing to push for the reversal of the British Government's pause on growth deal funding. My officials are working closely with the two growth deal teams to provide the necessary evidence for Treasury to consider as part of the…
Obviously, I do not agree with the Member's interpretation of the Budget sustainability plan. Appendix D is a list of proposals from Departments. The Executive will take a decision, and Ministers will take decisions in each of their Departments on which of those they will take forward.
I agree with the Member that addressing overcommitments and living within the budget should be the top priority for any Minister. All Ministers are autonomous within their Departments and have to take decisions to live responsibly, but the consequences of any Department overspending this year would be dire for the…
I have certainly made no secret of how difficult the financial situation is, particularly for this year. It will still be a challenge for Departments to live within budget. As we have already outlined in contributions to the Assembly, we anticipate a significant amount of Barnett consequentials for the rest of this…
The Budget sustainability plan is not, and was never intended to be, a panacea for addressing all the fiscal issues that the Executive face. Rather, it is the first step in a financial sustainability journey, providing a strategic framework that will allow Departments to consider how they can deliver long-term,…
The Budget sustainability plan is a first step on the Executive's journey towards fulfilling our longer-term ambition of integrating sustainability discussions into the heart of our processes and decision-making. As part of the plan, the Executive have agreed to a work plan that includes the development and…
The Budget sustainability plan reflects the amounts that will have to be raised through the regional rate to meet our obligation to raise the £113 million that needs to be raised over two years. The decision that the Executive took last year to keep the increase in the regional rate in line with inflation was taken to…
There are a number of factors at play that have had an impact on our village, town and city centres over recent years, not least the proliferation of online shopping. It is just so handy for many people to choose that option. The Executive need to take a collective approach to supporting our towns and our high…
I have spoken on that issue a number of times in the Assembly, because I recognise the role that industrial derating has played in supporting 4,400-plus manufacturers and its contribution to our having a strong manufacturing sector here. The measure supports indigenous businesses, with over 50% of the recipients being…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 5 and 11 together. Over 1,400 responses were received from ratepayers, businesses and a range of other stakeholders. It is for that reason that I wanted to ensure that, with my officials, I took the time to examine carefully all the views from those who…
I have directed GRO officials who are drafting the deaths and stillbirths registrations legislation to include the ability to register deaths and stillbirths online and by phone. We will include in that legislation provision for a baby loss certificate scheme. We may have to go to public consultation. That might be…
It is important to me that the baby loss certificate scheme meets the needs of families, charities and third-sector organisations. I am sure that, like me, the Member has had a lot of correspondence in relation to the issue. It has touched many people already that we are keen to develop and progress a baby loss…