Analysis in progress: 97,637 of 97,960 records assessed (99.7%). Totals and rankings will change until it finishes. Progress details
All of Mr Gordon Lyons’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
1,781 records match, page 22 of 72.
I am not sure how much will come from that or how much will be a Barnett consequential that we will be able to avail ourselves of. However, none of it will come ring-fenced; it will be for the Executive to decide how to spend it.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Youth Guarantee Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Youth Guarantee Scheme
A number of supports are available through the Department, including discretionary support for those who find themselves in difficulty. If the Member would like a full list of the supports that we give, I would be happy to provide it to her directly in writing. I understand what a difficult time that can be, and we…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: State Pension: Early Access Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: State Pension: Early Access
Those discussions have taken place. There has also been correspondence, but, to date, there has been no positive response from the relevant Ministers.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: State Pension: Early Access Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: State Pension: Early Access
It was left by members of his party to get us to this stage. I am the one who is driving it forward. It would be preferential if it had been done long before now.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Football Fund
I would like to see all clubs going through and all needs being met. Perhaps if the money had not been held to ransom over the past 14 years by members of his party, we might have been able to see more people get through. He shakes his head, but that is the case. There is no reason why that money could not have been…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Football Fund
We are not currently undertaking reviews of the football fund, because we are progressing through to the next stage and doing the due diligence that we said would be done. That continues, and I look forward to its being completed so that we can move on to the next stage.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Football Fund
I would need to do a little bit more work on that to see exactly what would be involved and what additional responsibilities it would place on the Department, but I will happily come back to the Member on that.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Policymaking: Young People Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Policymaking: Young People
I absolutely agree with the Member: the voices of young people need to be heard. Their voices are heard in different ways. We have public consultation processes in which young people can share their views. I have had a number of engagements with the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Policymaking: Young People Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Policymaking: Young People
I hope to bring that to the Executive very soon. Before doing so, I wanted to engage with the Department of Finance — that is what I have been doing — and Land and Property Services on some of the issues. Unfortunately, we are still going back and forth on them. I hope to bring that policy to the Executive very soon,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Executive: Borrowing Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Executive: Borrowing
I am grateful to the Member for raising the matter. I raise it all the time in the House, and I have to say that I am starting to get really fed up with how we are going round and round in circles on it. I am quite happy to update the House today. The Treasury asks for more information, we provide that information and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Executive: Borrowing Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Executive: Borrowing
Yes, absolutely. I will give the Member some figures. Ten years ago, working-age benefits across the UK cost £57 billion. Today, the cost is more than £127 billion. In Northern Ireland, five years ago, the estimated working-age welfare bill was £3·2 billion. In just five years, that has risen to £4·7 billion. That is…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Economic Inactivity Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Economic Inactivity
We have a problem in this country with economic inactivity. In the UK as a whole, economic inactivity is at 21%; in Northern Ireland, it is at almost 27%. That is why I am investing over £12 million in a new JobStart programme that helps those who find it hardest to access employment. We need to get more people into…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Economic Inactivity Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Economic Inactivity
We have done extensive work and research to make sure that we are putting the grant where it can make the most impact and deliver the most homes. I need to stretch it as far as possible. Quite frankly, Mr Durkan, the status quo is not good enough. I can do only what I can with the money that I have. I need to make it…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Association Grants Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Association Grants
The Department and the sector face many challenges, particularly in relation to budget. Those challenges create opportunities for us to be creative. We need to do more with less. We need to work together to address the barriers to finance and social housing supply. I have not seen the research that is quoted in the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Association Grants Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Association Grants
There are rules around the release of information — some of it may need to be caveated or redacted — but I am more than happy to do everything that we can within the law to be as open and transparent as possible.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund
I am happy to confirm that it will all be done in a completely fair and transparent manner. That is set out in all the guidance notes and documentation. I encourage Members, and members of the public who have applied, to read that guidance, where they will see the processes that will be put in place and what we will…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund
As I have said, we need to make sure that projects are shovel-ready so that the money can be spent in the next financial year. We did not want to be in a position where we were taking a risk on applicants being able to get planning permission, because that would put the ability to spend that money in-year under…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund
I am pleased to report that there has been positive engagement with the AERA Minister. As the Member will be aware, over 50% of applications were from rural communities. I hope that we can make progress and announce the detail of that very soon. It is an important fund, which will make significant changes to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will answer questions 8 and 14 together. I can advise that 744 of the 835 applicants who submitted expressions of interest have been invited to complete a stage 2 application. The stage 2 application process opened on Thursday 4 December, and it will close on Monday 23 January 2026.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Community Infrastructure Fund
Under my leadership, that is the policy of the Department. That is what we are pursuing, and we believe that people should be free to choose. There has been ongoing work on that since I came into office, and I have made very clear what I expect of officials. Work is being done, some of it at an international level,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sport NI: CEO Appointment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sport NI: CEO Appointment
I am grateful to the Member for his question and for his support of the project. Both he and Diane Forsythe have raised it with me separately, and I understand its importance, not just for South Down but for Northern Ireland more widely. The Member will be aware that a review is taking place. I cannot say anything…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sport NI: CEO Appointment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sport NI: CEO Appointment
The Member will understand that I cannot comment further on that particular issue. However, there has been considerable improvement over the past year, in particular. I am very supportive of and pleased with the work that the board, under its new chair and the interim chief executive officer, is doing. We are in a…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sport NI: CEO Appointment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sport NI: CEO Appointment
Employment issues for individual Sport NI staff are a matter for Sport NI. At present, the interim chief executive officer remains in place. I am not aware, at this time, of any planned recruitment of a new chief executive officer.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Sport NI: CEO Appointment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Sport NI: CEO Appointment
The Member will be aware that the promotion and development of the Irish language takes place through my Department in the funding that is given to the North/South language bodies. Last week, we had a North/South Language Body meeting and were updated on its work and the new, innovative programmes that it is rolling…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Irish Language Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Irish Language Strategy
I assure the Member that we will certainly not allow ourselves to get into the position that Belfast City Council has allowed itself to get into over the issue. It is right that, when we bring forward proposals on language, those are costed, proportionate, reasonable and accepted by the wider community. Unfortunately,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Irish Language Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Irish Language Strategy
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