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Ms Diana Armstrong: Assembly records
All of Ms Diana Armstrong’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
Minister, thank you for being here to take questions. Do you accept that relations between you and farmers are not where you would wish them to be? What steps will you take to improve working relationships with farmers?
Last Thursday, Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years for the sexual abuse of two children. It is difficult to say those words aloud, and it will have been even harder for the two women whose childhoods he took and for their families to hear what was read out in court. My thoughts are with them today. What those…
I also thank the Member who secured the Adjournment debate, and I thank constituency colleagues for being here for the debate. I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the proposed redevelopment of Oakridge Social Education Centre in Dungannon, a project that I believe is necessary and long overdue. As a…
I thank the Minister for that answer. Minister, in light of the failure to pass this year's Budget, what baselines will be used for setting next year's?
Minister, thank you for your statement. Notwithstanding the families affected by the fatalities and accidents on the A5, to whom I acknowledge those significant losses, there is another cohort affected. Will farmers whose land was vested in November 2024, was returned in June 2025 and is now to be vested again be…
I thank the Member for his intervention. As the Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I hear directly from farmers about a growing disconnect between the Department and the people whom it is supposed to serve. There was a time when the Department stood beside them and understood rural communities. Today,…
That was quite a show. I support the motion with a heavy heart but also with a deep sense of frustration on behalf of Northern Ireland's farming community. The events in Fivemiletown, and the Department's response to them, have exposed more than a single operational failure. Rather, they have exposed a failure of…
I thank the Member for her intervention. I think the topic has been well rehearsed, and my colleague has clearly explained the issue. Shock collars, prong collars, choke chains and other aversive devices rely on an animal avoiding an unpleasant consequence. We should move away from training methods that are based on…
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker, and apologies for my late arrival in the Chamber. I thank Members across the House for their contributions to what has been an important debate, and I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber to respond. At its heart, the motion is about how we believe that domestic animals…
The Ulster Unionist Party does not sit on the Committee on Standards. However, I will make some comments on behalf of the party. Given the events just now, with the non-appearance of the First Minister to respond to a question for urgent oral answer, this debate could hardly be more relevant. At the heart of public…
Of the actions in the Lough Neagh action plan that are listed as "Progressing", how many do you anticipate being completed before the end of the mandate?
Minister, I welcome the significant increase in activity at the South West Acute Hospital and the planned further expansion that you have outlined. I particularly welcome the increased gynae work and the focus on women's health. Do you agree that that demonstrates the important contribution that the SWAH and its…
I agree with the points raised there. It would be a useful exercise to compare the cost of doing business in rural peripheral areas with that in more highly populated areas. I will address the Mr Honeyford's point about cross-border cooperation. Businesses, health and education currently have cooperative engagements…
I welcome the opportunity to support the Regional Balance Bill progressing to Committee Stage. I begin by acknowledging the work of the Bill sponsor, Sinéad McLaughlin MLA, in presenting the Bill today. Sinéad has been a consistent and persistent voice in pursuit of greater regional balance across Northern Ireland,…
On behalf of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, I wish to request an extension to the Committee Stage of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill to 5 February 2027, as agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 2 July 2026. The Committee received a pre-introductory briefing from…
As a former member of the Economy Committee, I want to make an address before my colleague Mike Nesbitt joins the Committee for his inaugural meeting tomorrow. I welcome the Renewable Electricity Generation Bill as an important step towards placing Northern Ireland in a stronger position to generate renewable…
The initialism "RHI" has become infamous in Northern Ireland politics, but it has also become synonymous with a declining public confidence in the Assembly to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland. I am pleased to have seen that be rectified during my time on the Economy Committee. I am pleased that the scheme…
Minister, no one understands the environment more than farmers. Farmers work in the environment every day, from the moment they get up until the moment they finish their very long day. Minister, in order to rebuild confidence among farmers, do the terms of reference for the independent review permit Dr Blake to…
I hope that every Member will join me in agreeing that Northern Ireland has come a long way in parading. Over the past decade, we have seen a substantial fall in objections, disputes and disorder. Parades take place in a more relaxed atmosphere with far less policing. That has been good for community relations and for…
Minister, thank you for your comments on the passing of Tom Frawley, which were befitting of a man of his stature. I, too, send my sympathy to his family. Minister, I welcome the progress that is being made on the business plan, albeit the pace is frustrating, and share with fellow elected reps for Fermanagh and South…
Much is said about working towards regional balance in our economy. What assessment has been made of the geographical spread of PEACE PLUS funding? Can you provide assurances that rural communities are not being left behind in favour of urban centres, which have much more capacity to apply for that funding?
Thank you for the response, First Minister. Will you outline the further steps that you will take to address the cultural drivers of misogyny identified by the Church leaders in recent reviews to ensure greater accountability and coordination in tackling gender-based violence?
Minister, as we move towards July and the further lowering of the VAT rate for food and hospitality in the Republic of Ireland, the hospitality sector is looking at changing its operating models to address what it sees as a situation that is almost perilous to the operation of its businesses. How will you monitor the…