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.
1,596 records match, page 8 of 64.
I will come back to the Member with more details, but I understand that there is ongoing engagement with the Department for Communities on the listing of the building. We are looking at all options in relation to that building. I am not sure what benefit it is to the citizens of east Belfast at this time. I suspect…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dundonald House Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dundonald House
It is such an outdated building, and the cost would be with turning it into a modern, acceptable working environment and making it sustainable going forward, including in relation to energy costs. There is no point in us burning fuel to keep draughty windows and corridors warm. I assume that you will agree with that.…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Dundonald House Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Dundonald House
It was not hidden away. I am just checking my notes on that point. The confidence-and-supply funding was not earmarked for specific projects. Although the York Street interchange was part of the programme that was expected to utilise the funding from the confidence-and-supply agreement, funding legal challenges…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: York Street Interchange Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: York Street Interchange
I thought that the DUP had stopped talking about its confidence-and-supply relationship with the Conservative Party. It is one of those areas of life that you should probably put in the dark recesses of your mind and forget about. You may have secured £1 billion, but what did you actually cost us in cuts to public…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: York Street Interchange Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: York Street Interchange
That is part of the ongoing process of looking at the implications of introducing the legislation. It will impact on a number of Departments and areas of responsibility. I have already had initial engagement with the Justice Minister, and my officials are engaging with the Justice Department. When this law is…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Jade's Law Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Jade's Law
As I said during the main Question Time, officials are working their way through that area of legislation. I believe that a change was made via an amendment to a justice Bill in Westminster to introduce what is known as Jade's law. However, that was two years ago. Although Jade's law is on the statute books, it has…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Jade's Law Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Jade's Law
It is a hugely complex legal area. If there are to be changes to the legislation, proper scrutiny will be required. My advice — this has been my advice since day 1 on this matter — for anyone who has concerns about how they are being treated by their property management company is to consult their contract and, if…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Property Management Companies: Regulation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Property Management Companies: Regulation
My Department continues to examine that area. As I have said previously in the House, I do not think that I will be able to introduce legislation on the issue within this mandate, but I have set aside resources in my Department to examine the matter further and progress it to a stage at which we will be able to…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Property Management Companies: Regulation Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Property Management Companies: Regulation
As the Member knows, each Department has been issued with a contingency expenditure envelope by my permanent secretary. Ongoing programmes can be funded. There are difficult decisions for all Ministers and permanent secretaries to take, as there are in all such cases. Does the Member want me or the Executive to bring…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Budget: Executive Failure Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Budget: Executive Failure
It is six months since I published a draft Budget. To date, the Opposition and their leader have not published an alternative Budget. Members around the table and around the Chamber have responsibilities in their individual roles. I have published a draft Budget and submitted it to my Executive colleagues. They have…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Budget: Executive Failure Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Budget: Executive Failure
There are two important points to note from the outset. First, derelict properties that are not fit for beneficial occupation fall outside the rating system. Secondly, a revaluation process is simply a means of redistributing the property tax in line with the latest market evidence. It acts as a revenue-neutral…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Derelict Commercial Properties Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Derelict Commercial Properties
I do not have those exact figures in front of me, but my interpretation — I may be wrong — is that a dormant post is one that is no longer required. Therefore, if a post is no longer required, in my view, it should not be in the system. Again, however, it comes down to accounting officers, Ministers and their senior…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Civil Service: Vacancies Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Civil Service: Vacancies
Responsibility for assessing and managing the impact of vacancies on public service delivery sits with Departments, as they are accountable for service delivery and affordability. Departments assess workforce pressures on an ongoing basis and prioritise resources to protect essential services within constrained…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Civil Service: Vacancies Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Northern Ireland Civil Service: Vacancies
More than 1,100 people and organisations took the time to respond during the consultation process. I have also met representatives of Sands and the Little Forget Me Nots Trust. Those organisations provide support to families after the loss of a baby. Alongside work with those organisations, my officials ran a…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Baby Loss Certificate Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Baby Loss Certificate Scheme
The draft Baby Loss Certificate Regulations 2026 were debated and approved by the Assembly last Tuesday. That allows my officials to finalise the IT and operational arrangements that are necessary to launch the scheme. I remain committed to ensuring that the scheme is launched by the end of June so that parents who…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Baby Loss Certificate Scheme Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Baby Loss Certificate Scheme
There has been some indication of that, though not in significant numbers. There has been some indication that there have been people who have travelled to this jurisdiction to avail themselves of our current laws. It is important that we modernise our legislation and protect all young people.
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Marriage and Civil Partnership: Minimum Age Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Marriage and Civil Partnership: Minimum Age
I wish to legislate on that matter. Unfortunately, the paper that I produced earlier this year remains with the Executive. It is vital that we modernise our laws on divorce and the dissolution of civil partnerships to ensure that such matters can be dealt with as quickly and as responsibly as possible. I believe that…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Marriage and Civil Partnership: Minimum Age Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Marriage and Civil Partnership: Minimum Age
The Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill was introduced on 16 March 2026 and passed its Second Stage on 20 April. It is now with the Committee for Finance, and I look forward to further engagement with the Committee on what are important changes. My expectation is that the Bill will pass later this year or early in…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Marriage and Civil Partnership: Minimum Age Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Marriage and Civil Partnership: Minimum Age
Those are all issues involved in the engagement that my officials are having currently to look at how we can progress the matter. All the questions that arise need to be looked at and interrogated and then, if possible, answered in the legislation. I am conscious that, under current legislation, everyone is innocent…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Parental Responsibility: Murder or Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Parental Responsibility: Murder or Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions
I have met Women's Aid and other campaigners, and there has been a substantial amount of correspondence on the matter. It is quite clear that there is a need and a demand for such changes to be made. I would like to be in a position to introduce legislation much earlier, but, on reflection, it is only right and proper…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Parental Responsibility: Murder or Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Parental Responsibility: Murder or Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions
I am committed to legislating on that issue. Officials have commenced work on the detailed policy development that will be required to include provisions that are similar to Jade's law, which has been enacted but not yet implemented in England and Wales. I am very aware of the devastating impact that such…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Parental Responsibility: Murder or Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Parental Responsibility: Murder or Voluntary Manslaughter Convictions
There needs to be a collective, strategic approach to that matter across the Executive to ensure that we deliver the required changes to our rating system, whether those are to domestic rating policy or non-domestic rating policy. I have one paper with the Executive, and another will be on its way after the…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Business Rates Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Business Rates
Yes. A consultation will be launched at the end of this month and will run across the summer, during which views will be sought from stakeholders on the possible introduction of that policy, which is largely based on the Scottish model. The process will run over the summer and then, hopefully, policy and support will…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Business Rates Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Business Rates
As I set out in my original answer, we are providing substantial support to our small and medium-sized businesses. In monetary value, it is around £0·25 billion of support. I have further proposals in front of the Executive. I want to have even more discussions about how we can help our businesses to expand physically…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Business Rates Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Business Rates
Once again, that highlights the importance of being able to agree a Budget. As I have set out, when the Executive are given the ability to do so, they can introduce measures to support not only our public services but our local businesses and our economy. I am appealing to the British Government to give us the proper…
Assessment details for Debate contribution: Business Rates Official Assembly record for Debate contribution: Business Rates
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