Analysis in progress: 97,639 of 97,778 records assessed (99.9%). 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 58 of 72.
I communicated my decision to Members as soon as I was in a position to do so. The urgent procedure request that I was granted was delivered to me, and I informed the Assembly as soon as I could. When it comes to my role in all that, we were given the facts by the UK Government. We were told of the changes that they…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment
I can only reflect to the House what happened with the timings of the decision. What has taken place with the Government over the past week is, to put it mildly, inappropriate. When announcements are made, it is right and proper that Ministers are able to answer questions on them and speak to the media. Of course,…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Casement Park Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Casement Park
My private office was emailed at 6.32 pm on Friday. That email was forwarded to my departmental email address at 7.00 pm.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Casement Park Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Casement Park
There was a longer lead-in period for that. DWP is changing its system to allow for the changes that are taking place across the whole of the United Kingdom. We asked whether there was any capacity to allow us to do things differently, but the indications that came back were that that was not possible. The difference…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment
As I have said, I strongly disagree with, and am totally opposed to, the Labour Government's decision to change the winter fuel payment eligibility criteria. I am very concerned about the serious consequences that it will have on the comfort, well-being and health of older people across Northern Ireland. I circulated…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment
I have raised the issue and highlighted the impact with UK Ministers on a number of occasions, including with Ministers in the NIO and different Ministers in DWP and elsewhere. To put the number in context, it is over 80% of pensioners in Northern Ireland. So, it is not just the rich, millionaires or people who can…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment
Two hundred and forty nine thousand, six hundred.
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Winter Fuel Payment
Of course, as we all know, the House passed the Climate Change Act, which gave us the climate change targets. Those are going to be incredibly difficult for us to meet. Of course, they were beyond what was recommended by experts at the time. We now have to live with the consequences of the decision that this place…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Energy Efficiency and Decarbonation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Energy Efficiency and Decarbonation
Improving energy efficiency and installing decarbonisation measures in homes is a vital part of addressing fuel poverty and meeting our requirements under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. My Department is responsible for the affordable warmth scheme, which aims to assist low-income owner-occupiers and…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Energy Efficiency and Decarbonation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Energy Efficiency and Decarbonation
I am sorry if the Member believes that my answer was convoluted. I was simply setting out the process for how the funds are allocated. I can certainly assure the Member that I am not doing anything on the basis of sectarian decision-making.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Stress Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Stress
The social housing development programme (SHDP) is a three-year rolling programme of planned social housing schemes, based on the identification and analysis of housing need by geographical area. The formulation of the SHDP is shaped by the Housing Executive's strategic guidelines, which ensure that the programme…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Stress Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Stress
Absolutely. It is incredibly important and is a genuine lifeline for many people. We are working our way through the review. Some of the important recommendations have, of course, already been implemented, but, as the Member will be aware, others will require significant financial commitment.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Discretionary Support Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Discretionary Support Scheme
My officials have been working to identify options to progress the expert panel's recommendations in the context of the current climate of financial constraint. I will provide an update to Members once that work has been completed.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Discretionary Support Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Discretionary Support Scheme
I have certainly raised that with the UK Government. I told them, first of all, about the need to change their minds on the winter fuel payment, and also, if that is not the case, to ensure that we have sufficient support in place for older people, especially those who are most vulnerable. The affordable warmth scheme…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Pensioners: Financial Support Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Pensioners: Financial Support
Yes, there has been. In August 2024, 889 people applied in Northern Ireland, compared with 610 in the same period last year. In July 2024, there were 663 applicants, compared with 526 last year. We are seeing an uptick in the number of people who are applying for pension credit. Only two weeks into this month, we have…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Pensioners: Financial Support Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Pensioners: Financial Support
Pensioners who are on a low income may be entitled to pension credit, which is a means-tested benefit for people over state pension age. On average, people on pension credit can be better off by around £4,400 a year and are passported to other support, such as help with housing costs and NHS costs, and there are free…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Pensioners: Financial Support Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Pensioners: Financial Support
When I announced The Northern Ireland Football Fund, I set out some of the criteria that clubs will be expected to adhere to. There certainly will be fair and equitable treatment, and, importantly, the process will be transparent.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund
The performance clubs will be first, not overall but in the performance element of it. I hope that we will be able to initiate those conversations in December, with the application period opening in January. I hope very early in the new financial year to allow grassroots clubs to apply.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund
The Member will be aware of the first 10 clubs that were able to benefit from the business case funding. I recently announced a further three clubs that will have the ability to get the funding that they need. I hope to be in a position to continue further down the list and allow clubs that need the funds that I will…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund
Yes. It is critical that we invest in grassroots infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Of course, there is huge need at performance level, but grassroots football cannot be forgotten. I appreciate and thank the Member for his invite to west Tyrone. I saw there the important role that those clubs, like so many other…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund
Thank you. The Northern Ireland Football Fund will provide investment for football at all levels. It is a key priority for me. I am committed to moving forward as quickly as possible, and my officials are continuing to push forward at pace. I want to roll out the funding as quickly as possible. However, it is…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund
Mr Speaker, I believe that question 4 has been linked to question 13.
Not analysed
Assessment details for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: The Northern Ireland Football Fund
I hope that the Member was listening to my previous answer. We are in a very constrained budgetary position. Even if my budget were to be doubled, it would not put us at the number of social homes that we need to build. We therefore need to look at alternatives. That is why I introduced the intermediate rent model. It…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy
We can take many actions to ensure that we have a greater supply of homes in Northern Ireland. In the private sector, we absolutely need to look at availability of land, at planning and at water infrastructure. All are important. One of the single most important things that we can do, however, is to see the change…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy
I have had conversations with the Minister of Finance and the Minister for Infrastructure. The Member's question raises important issues. First, planning is one of many issues that affect our ability to build homes. We need to look at a number of aspects of how we operate our planning system, especially statutory…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Housing Supply Strategy
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