All of Mr John O'Dowd’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
It is important that the Budget is used as an opportunity to support working families. I pressed that point both at the Financial Interministerial Standing Committee (FISC), which comprises the Ministers from the devolved institutions, and at the meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in mid-October. I…
As early as August of this year, I wrote to the Treasury on behalf of the Executive requesting access to the reserve fund for the PSNI data breach. Since then, there has been ongoing engagement with the Treasury on the issue, including between the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and me and at official level. It is…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I intend to answer questions 1 and 4 together. I have urged the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to use the autumn Budget as an opportunity to further support workers and families, particularly on childcare. Economic growth and improved public services cannot be achieved without…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Is it appropriate for Members to discuss a ruling that was given from the Speaker's Chair during a previous debate in the way that Mr Gaston is doing? It appears that Mr Gaston is giving his interpretation of the ruling. I know that he read out the Deputy Speaker's words, but we do not…
It is important for Members to recognise that we have moved out of the period in which we debated motions that have no impact: we are now writing law. When you write law, you write it for whatever circumstances might arise in future. The Department's proposal, which is the subject of a number of amendments, is that it…
Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. In a very straitened financial operating context, the revenue from rates is key to the provision of much-needed public services, such as health and education, not to mention the many services that are provided by councils to support local communities. That is why, as Minister of…
It is regrettable that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has declined the Executive's request for access to the reserve for costs associated with the PSNI data breach. It remains my view that the exceptional, unavoidable nature of the costs meets the conditions of our reserve claim. People and families have been…
Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I fully support the motion and welcome the opportunity to respond to the debate. Many Members have rightly recognised the positive contributions that the European social fund and the European regional development fund made in supporting the community and voluntary sector over many…