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.
I certainly hope that any information that is required is passed on. If it is not, I will always make sure that it is. Let me make one thing very clear: there should be no role whatsoever for paramilitaries in any housing issue. If there is, it should absolutely come to an end. Housing should be allocated based on…
The Member will know that we have been working on that issue lately. I do not know whether the Member is referring to financial support. I can certainly provide that information. Through the Housing Executive and housing associations, there are a number of programmes in place to deal with that. I can get him the…
I completely agree with the Member. Following a meeting with Sport NI and officials from the sports branch in my Department, I have made clear the urgent need to progress that work and make sure that the report's recommendations are implemented. I am also considering what implications that may have for current and…
My thoughts are with John's family and friends and all those in the boxing world who knew and loved him. It was a tragic event. I commend the medical team at the Ulster Hall and all staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital for their work. I thank Mr Brett for raising this issue. I noted with interest the recent case that…
I want to find new ways to support the arts and maximise the contribution that it can make by driving equality of access and opportunity across socio-economic groupings, age, geography and so on. I want to encourage greater participation, particularly from people and communities that might feel that the arts are not…
I am grateful to the Member for raising that question, because it is really important. We must have regional balance when it comes to funding for the arts. Everyone deserves to have access to the arts, and that will be a central theme of the work that I am undertaking to develop a new arts policy, which I announced in…
I have made my position on that very clear. Libraries NI should offer a safe place. Parents should and must have confidence in the books that are available, and we need to make sure that we do everything that we can to protect children. I have made my views clear to the board of Libraries NI — to the chairman and the…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issuesCriteria met: Controversy escalation.
There are two reasons for that. First, fairness, and secondly, safety. Sport is inherently physical. The physiology of the sexes matters. Everyone should be getting behind the notion that women's sports are reserved for women. Most people will agree with that. In fact, it is regressive to think anything else.
I am happy to look at any proposal that comes from the organisation that the Member mentioned. If appropriate, I will be more than happy to write to the Health Minister to see what can be done jointly, if the objectives that it outlines align with the Programme for Government.
The Member will be aware of the very tight budgetary conditions in which we find ourselves and the significant cost savings that I have had to make in the past 12 months in order to deliver a balanced budget. However, I am always willing to meet those who are making requests of the Government, especially if they are…
I do not think that this Government have any idea about the implications that their decisions are having for people across Northern Ireland, be they farmers, pensioners or the voluntary and community sector, which is doing key work in making sure that we tackle some of the most pressing issues in society. All that…
We are committed to the principle of full cost recovery in brokering funding arrangements with sector providers. Where delivery partners face significant unexpected cost pressures, we will consider all reasonable requests. I have demonstrated my commitment to the sector by providing a 5% uplift to key DFC funding…
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 8 and 11 for answer. I understand and acknowledge the sector's concerns about the impacts of recent UK Government Budget decisions, including the increase to employers' National Insurance contributions. My Department currently has two contracts with voluntary…
Absolutely. That is an important part of what we are trying to do through the housing supply strategy. We need to make sure that we do everything that we can to make use of the buildings that we have. Sometimes, that involves extra cost, but it is still beneficial for us to make sure that we use the buildings that we…
Yes, of course, absolutely. I know that that area is dear to the Member's heart, and I thank him for the continual, constant lobbying that he has been involved in up to this point. The commitment from the Department certainly stands.
The Member is right: I do not want to give too much away on that. However, I hope that he recognises my commitment to making sure that we lead on the regeneration of cities, towns and villages of all sizes. Obviously, different responsibilities fall within the remits of different Departments, but I am pleased with…
The Department for Communities' regeneration policy focus is on urban settlements with a population of 5,000 or more. As rural villages and small towns have populations of under 5,000, they sit outside DFC's urban regeneration policy remit. Those smaller settlements fall within the remit of the Department of…
Mr Speaker, as you point out, that is not related to the question, but it is a good attempt by the Member to connect it, so perhaps I could write to him with that detail. Dereliction is an issue that needs to be addressed, and I look forward to seeing the dilapidation Bill coming forward from the Department of…
Prior to the Clifton Gateway public realm scheme's being paused, design proposals had been developed, including engagement with key stakeholders. I suppose that the snag is that the design programmes will need to be reviewed and updated to take account of the eastern transport plan and Belfast Rapid Transit outcomes…
For Peter's Hill, which is phase 1 of the Shankill Gateway scheme, work is ongoing to procure the works contractor. It is anticipated that the contract will be awarded in April of this year. Site works are expected to commence in spring or early summer and to take 12 months to be completed. That represents an…
My Department's plans for the Clifton Gateway public realm scheme have been significantly impacted on by the work being undertaken by the Department for Infrastructure to develop the eastern transport plan 2035 and the proposals for the next phase of the Belfast Rapid Transit programme. Donegall Street, Clifton Street…
I hope that the Member will read all the documentation that has been put out. Previous investment contributes towards higher points in the matrix, not just investment throughout the process. It is important that those who have been willing to invest already in their facilities benefit from having done so. I encourage…