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.
Yes. I have met the Secretary of State on that matter, and we have had conversations about it. I have made it clear that the funding of sport, especially when direct funding is being given to one sport within a broader package of measures, should be done fairly and equitably and that there should be no special…
I have been aware of many of the problems in the Housing Executive in its not being able to do some of the things that it would like to do. That is as a result of a lack of funding. That is why I have been working so hard to make sure that we see a change through the revitalisation of the Housing Executive so that we…
I have not received a request to meet it. I am concerned about some of the things that I have heard, and it is right that the investigation take place. Regarding my involvement in that process, I am open to hearing what evidence it would like from the Department, but I will wait for it to ask for any evidence that may…
I will not go into exactly who said what, because Executive conversations are confidential. There was, however, the level of consensus required to go out to public consultation. All Ministers had the opportunity to submit their ideas for things that, they believe, could be delivered within their Departments. They…
First, I put on record my thanks to those involved in Larne Swimming Club. As the Member is aware, they have been in contact with me directly, and we have been united in our view on the wrongs that took place over that time. We condemned the violence together. I am pleased to have been working closely with them and…
I again condemn the recent violence and the harm that it has inflicted on communities that have been affected by the actions of a disruptive minority. I confirm that neither my Department nor Sport NI has been contacted directly by sports clubs or organisations that have been impacted on by the recent violence. As a…
The Member has been a strong supporter of the development for many years. I am pleased that we will see work begin on the site today, and I can inform the Member that he will see that work ramp up over the next six months, especially heading into later in the year, when we will see the work continue to make a…
I am happy to announce that Bangor Marine has begun today to establish the Marine Gardens works compound, with site cabins and facilities for the construction workers who are starting to come on-site. As of today, some additional enabling works have commenced, and hoardings have been erected as part of phase 1 of the…
Councils have ability in that area. For example, Belfast City Council has planning policy on short-term holiday lets, so it is in the gift of other councils to follow suit and do likewise. It is a local issue, and that is why we have local government, and we should respect the role that local councils and councillors…
I recognise how difficult it is, and I have brought forward a housing supply strategy because that is at the heart of all this, although I recognise that there are particular issues in her area. I assure her that housing officials have met DFE and DFI colleagues to scope research into the specific issue of short-term…
Responses to the impact of second home or holiday home ownership in other UK jurisdictions have involved providing additional powers to local councils to allow them to amend the taxation rates that are applied to them. The consideration of similar powers here would be a matter for DOF to take forward, but I recognise…
I look forward to doing that. It will be very soon, because it is important that we help people get back into work. That is one of the ways that we can take proper action to tackle poverty. I look forward to announcing that programme soon.
The employment support scheme supports people with disabilities in work. The scheme closed to new entrants in 2006. My Department launched a 12-week public consultation on an option to cease funding the scheme. That closed on 17 February. Officials are considering responses to the consultation, but no decision has…
I am more than happy to look into that. I do not have any detail with me, but it is important that we ensure that those who are responsible take action. I am happy to chase that up for the Member and to come back to him directly.
I recognise the difficulties that exist for the HED in what we are trying to preserve at so many sites right across Northern Ireland, so I have increased the opening revenue budget for HED to £12·8 million, which is an increase of £2·6 million from last year. As custodians of the sites, we have a duty to make sure…
We have discussed that issue previously, and my understanding is that the enforcement is primarily for the council to take forward. I understand that there is a lot of background to the issue, and I am more than happy to discuss it with him further. Unfortunately, we are bound by the law as it stands, and we have to…
A total of 187 of our most important monuments are protected as historical monuments in state care and are managed and conserved by the HED in my Department. They are protected through regular inspections, conservation maintenance and repairs, which are carried out by our in-house conservation works team or through…
It is always important that Ministers adhere to the law. On that basis, any strategy that comes forward from my Department to the Executive will, of course, ensure that that ruling is respected.
Those strategies are not progressing at this time because we are looking at the way forward. We are dealing with the anti-poverty strategy at the minute, and I will bring the disability strategy to the Executive very shortly. I can then decide the best way forward. That will require an additional staffing commitment,…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 7 and 11 together. Given the pressure on resources across Departments, I decided to move forward with the development of the social inclusion strategies on a phased basis. An announcement on the timetable for the way forward on the gender equality and sexual…
The Member is absolutely right: we should be sensitive to that. Unfortunately, there are far too many people who are insensitive to what took place there and will not even allow a simple memorial to stand there. I assure her that we will do everything that we can to make sure that any development in that area is…
I am always happy to look at options that are available to us so that we can improve the site. However, the Member will be aware of the significant pressure that the historic environment division (HED) is under. I have significantly increased the budget for capital projects this year, but there are a lot of works in…