All of Ms Kellie Armstrong’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I congratulate Carers UK on its 60th anniversary. In 1965, Reverend Mary Webster, a carer herself, founded the first carers' organisation, the National Council for the Single Woman and her Dependants, and the carers movement was formed. Later, in 1988, it became Carers UK. In the intervening 60 years, there have been…
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any solutions being introduced for patients with epilepsy that are having difficulty accessing anti-seizure medications such as Zonisamide, particularly Zonegran, Phenytoin, Lamotrigine and Carbamazepine.
To ask the Minister of Finance whether she will review the necessity to provide car parking space on Balloo Road, Bangor, opposite the former Rathgael House, given the building has been demolished and the area could be used for parking, allowing the land on Balloo Road to be used for social housing.
To ask the Minister for Communities when his Department will progress legislation to (i) enable the Charity Commission to clarify the financial and reporting obligations for Section 167 charities registered elsewhere on these islands; and (ii) remove barriers to local funding for these charities
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) when guidance will be provided to local councils and sports clubs in relation to the transition away from Artificial Grass Pitches; and (ii) any financial support that will be made available following the EU REACH restriction on the sale of rubber infill for 3G…
To ask the Minister for Communities whether he will put in arrangements in place, along with the Housing Executive, to require all developments of ten social housing units or more to include a bus stop, at least two accessible and sustainable bus shelters and road space to enable access by an Ulsterbus-sized public…
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the number of charities that are recognised as Section 167 charities for the purposes of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Apologies, Minister. I know that you are in full flow, but this is something that, as a former member of the Women's Caucus steering group, I think is important. Section 75 outlines equality, but equity is the key. One of the things that gender budgeting can bring about, as you said, is equity. It can ensure that…
I agree with the Member. That is why the proposal in the motion is key. We can talk about change all the time, but we need to take action and not just consider doing so. For instance, if we make the change on gender-responsive budgeting, it will apply to everyone.
I thank the Member for giving way. I appreciate that the Member was not here in the previous mandate — I absolutely agree with what she is saying — but, as part of International Women's Day on 8 March 2021, the Assembly, endorsing a motion from the Women's Caucus, identified that we need to have a gender-sensitive…
No one can deny that the musical instruments for bands programme has been very successful. Will the Minister confirm whether there is the potential to allow charities, such as Beyond Skin, that work with groups of musicians and make musical instruments available to people such as the Afghan women's solidarity group —…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will try my best to be quicker than that. Today, we must all think about why the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, brought these changes forward in her Budget. Certainly, she believes that raising £24 billion to fund public services will add funds to a stretched health service. That makes…
I was about to come to that, Mr Speaker. Minister, the Act states that you have to, "encourage, facilitate and support" integrated education. In your response to a question for written answer from me, you outlined the fact that you do not monitor how many children are turned away from integrated schools in Ards and…
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak on this matter today. I am disappointed, Minister, by your misreading of the Integrated Education Act.
Thank you very much, Minister. I know that you share my frustration that councils were not enabled to deal with regeneration. Minister, I am excited by the dilapidation Bill that the Member mentioned. Can you outline what difference the Bill will make to the regeneration of our towns and cities?
To ask the Minister of Education to provide the link to the current Transformation to Integrated Status process guidance and templates as of January 2025.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of children that have failed to secure a place in an integrated post-primary school in the North Down and Ards area in each of the last five years.
To ask the Minister of Education (i) why his departmental officials are developing a new Transformation process for schools making a Case for Change to become integrated; and (ii) to provide an indication of when the public consultation on the proposed changes will be held.
Motion Amendment · Private Members' Motion · to “Protecting Frontline Services From Increase in Employers’ National Insurance”
Protecting Frontline Services From Increase in Employers’ National Insurance - Amendment 1 Leave out all after ‘public sector,’ and insert: ‘independent providers and community and voluntary sector organisations providing frontline services; and further calls on the Minister to lobby the Chancellor of Exchequer for…
To ask the Minister of Education how the refusal to approve the Transformation to Integrated Status Development Plan for Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Rathmore Primary School is in line with the statutory requirements of the Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and his duty to encourage,…
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the outcome of the parental ballot asking if they supported their school transforming to integrated status held at (i) Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College; and (ii) Rathmore Primary School.
To ask the Minister of Education to detail how he is ensuring his Department is providing sufficient places in integrated schools to meet demand, such as in the North Down and Ards area, as required by legislation.