All of Ms Diane Forsythe’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank Peter Martin and other colleagues for tabling the motion. I also thank all Members who contributed to the debate and the Justice Minister for being here and for her contribution. In my previous job with Belfast and Lisburn Women's Aid, I learned so much about the…
I thank the Minister for her ongoing commitment to road safety, and, as others have done, I welcome any measures to help reduce loss of life on the roads. Those representing a rural constituency such as mine have seen too much of that over the years. Minister, given the lack of opportunity for scrutiny, I will ask you…
Today, we have seen the publication of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report 'Leading and Resourcing the Northern Ireland Civil Service', and it is damning. We speak a lot here about the pressures that public services and finances are under, and I consistently highlight the need to deliver efficiencies and manage…
Reform of the Northern Ireland Civil Service That this Assembly notes the findings of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report, Leading and Resourcing the Northern Ireland Civil Service; recognises the dedication of civil servants in delivering public services under increasing strain; believes that reform is necessary…
I thank the Members who tabled the motion. Cara and I, in the 2022 election, were both targeted in that way. We did not know each other. She was running in East Londonderry for the SDLP, while I was running in South Down for the DUP. On the face of it, we did not have too much in common, but what we had in common was…
Minister, the hospitality sector was shut down during COVID and has struggled to get back on its feet. It was hit hard by the increases in employers' National Insurance. It is vital to our tourism industry, and it has now been hit with rates increases. Is there a realistic prospect of hospitality businesses being able…
The commissioner said: "A person reading the second sentence, and aware of the views of many of Minister Lyons’ constituents, could reasonably conclude Minister Lyons and his DUP Council colleagues would have expressed disapproval of the decision had they been consulted." Does the Minister feel that it is appropriate…
Minister, I know that you are acutely aware of how many of our voluntary and community sector organisations have been impacted. You have worked closely with me, chair of the all-party group on the voluntary and community sector, on that. Just last Wednesday, hundreds of people stood out on the steps of this Building…
While some play party politics, real data is at the heart of the issue. Data is critical in analysis, and, as an accountant — a number cruncher — I believe in the value of good data in assessing value for money, assessing our economy and making good use of information. It is well known that, in Northern Ireland, data…
On Thursday past, businesses across Northern Ireland received notifications from Land and Property Services (LPS) of revaluations of their business premises as a result of Reval2026. We all know that property valuations have increased, and most businesses expected it. What those businesses received, however, was…
To ask the Minister of Finance, following the publication of Reval26, to detail the difference in 2025-2026 rates bills when calculated using Reval26 valuation figures, compared with the bills actually issued.
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for her assessment of the need for a review of public transport links and services, into and throughout South Down.
To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) whether access to a care package is dependent on a person's postcode or Health and Social Care Trust area; and (ii) the number of people who are waiting to receive a care package, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether there are any plans to introduce a scheme for landowners to renew or replace stone walls and ditches, given that they are unique to certain areas and need to be maintained.
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether her Department plans to publish a map providing the locations of salt bins, to ensure efficiency when requesting that they are refilled.
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the action her Department is taking to replenish and provide salt and grit piles on rural roads, in the South Down constituency.
To ask the Minister of Finance to detail the type of appointment his Department issue text reminders for, as detailed in the 2024-2025 Annual Performance report which stated that over 4 million text messages were sent, helping alert customers to critical information such as appointment reminders.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether his Department has any plans to open a second call for the Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme.
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether her Department has any plans to provide grant support for the installation of (i) solar panels; and (ii) other renewables, within domestic settings.
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the amount spent by her Department on (i) temporary traffic lights; and (ii) associated temporary traffic management, in each of the last three financial years,
To ask the Minister of Finance for his assessment of the level of direct award contracts across the public sector, including the £329 million direct award contracts within the Department of Health in 2024-2025, as highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General in her 2025 Report on Financial Audit Findings.