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Mr Declan Kearney: Assembly records
All of Mr Declan Kearney’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
Minister, for decades, British armed forces have been central to state terrorism in this place. Today, their security and intelligence agencies continue to play a malign role in our politics and society. That is reflected in the attempt to push through the so-called legacy legislation in Westminster today and…
Minister, you have worked closely with me and local residents in Antrim town specifically, which has been the subject of very severe flooding in recent months. Can you give me an assurance that, as we move through the rest of this year, you and your officials will prioritise flood alleviation and defence measures in…
Minister, on Friday, you made a very important announcement about a financial mitigation package for fishermen because of the endemic pollution of the Lough. I think that we would both agree that the package will not provide full compensation for the eel fishermen's loss of livelihood because they can no longer fish…
Notwithstanding the misplaced commentary from my colleague, Minister, in reality, Casement must be seized as a flagship project on the part of our Executive and wider society, because, as you correctly say, sport should be celebrated in our community regardless of the discipline or the code. Will you therefore…
Minister, businesses in rural areas already have to contend with many more obstacles than businesses in urban areas. How will you ensure that rural businesses specifically are not disadvantaged when seeking grid connections?
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra fhíorghairid sin. Minister, you will be aware that there is considerable anger over the legal action that you have been taking against that signage. Earlier today, I noted that a loss of confidence has been submitted by the arts sector in relation to a lack of investment in…
Ten years after the DUP ineptitude and arrogance around the RHI debacle, which collapsed these institutions, I welcome the work that has been done by the Sinn Féin Minister for the Economy, Caoimhe Archibald, to close the RHI scheme. I associate myself with Phillip's remarks, as Chair of the Committee, in noting the…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra sin. I note the Minister's comments and take them on board. Does the Minister agree that handing over £150,000 to English consultants is not an intelligent use of his limited departmental financial resources?
Minister, do you agree that the discrimination in employment and the political vetting that have been practised in this state for so long, and actively supported by some Members, have no place in today's society, and that appointment to government boards should be open to all sections of society, including such…
I thank the Minister for that response. It is an area of road safety, including rural road safety, that is within our control and in which improvements can be delivered in a very tangible way at low cost. Minister, when will that very important legislation be introduced to the Assembly so that we can expedite its…
Minister, you will be aware that the reopening of the Knockmore to Antrim line is effectively a cross-party priority, supported by all elected representatives in the constituency. It also commands a significant interest from an economic, commercial, business and community standpoint in South Antrim. Your news today is…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra. Minister, that is fantastic news for the east Derry, north Derry and north Antrim region. Can you give us some sense of whether the growth deal has set out projections in relation to employment generation, overall regeneration and the benefits that will accrue to the…
It is welcome to hear about your proactivity with the British and Irish Governments to try to redress the anomaly. You will be aware that Sinn Féin introduced a Bill in Dáil Éireann to address geoblocking: will you give us an assessment of that Bill?
The recent election results in England, Scotland and Wales represent really significant political change in the landscape of those countries. The surge in electoral support for progressive politics and self-determination, as well as support for extreme right-wing populism, should be a wake-up call for the British…
Some 10 years after the spectacular DUP mismanagement of and arrogance about the RHI scheme, which led directly to the collapse of these political institutions, that scheme is finally set to close. The RHI scheme should have been a positive and constructive green energy initiative that contributed to decarbonisation…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an leasChéad-Aire as ucht a freagra. Minister, I fully endorse what you said about the achievement of the fund in getting £30 million of investment into communities, benefiting 950 projects. Can you be more specific and give us a precise time frame within which we will know which projects'…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Repeated warnings about what Brexit would mean to us here in the North were scoffed at by the DUP and their fellow Brexiteers. It is not for the first or the last time that we are debating one of the consequences of that disastrous decision. Predictably the British…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra. Today is Workers' Memorial Day, and, this weekend, the trade union movement will celebrate International Workers' Day. The North remains a low-wage economy. Minister, based on what you have just said, how will you seek to prioritise in the coming period the absolute…
Minister, in light of the current global insecurity, the horizon scanning that you have said has been undertaken by your officials and the consultations that have been carried out, can you outline specifically what supports are being developed to assist high-intensity energy manufacturing businesses?
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. "I have been clear and consistent throughout" — this process — "that we should follow the advice of experts and set targets on the basis of the evidence." — [Official Report (Hansard), 9 March 2022, p2, col 2] So said the former leader of the DUP and then DUP Environment…
I beg to move Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The European Union has played a pivotal role in securing the success of the Good Friday Agreement. Since the original Peace I funding of 1995, financial support from the EU has underpinned the progress of our peace process. Since 2021, over £1·1 billion in…
Does the Member agree that, for those of us who have raised children with special educational and complex needs who have become adults and live with us today, a U-turn on the summer schemes is not enough? We need a reset in how our children and adults with educational, complex and additional needs are treated, not…
The fallout from the US/Israeli war against Iran has resulted in a global energy shock that is directly impacting on the least well off in our society, placing hard-pressed families into deeply precarious situations. In the midst of the existing cost-of-living crisis, workers and their families are now faced with…
That is very good news, Minister. Thanks for the update. Can you indicate how those outcomes will give us further resilience in continuing to attract jobs, improve the economy and expand those particular growth sectors?