All of Mr Matthew O'Toole’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I am grateful to my constituency colleague for giving way. She mentioned Finaghy. Places like that in our constituency — Finaghy, Carryduff and Newtownbreda — are shared spaces. Does she agree that, while lots of families like the one that she is talking about empathise with the people who were mentioned before, who…
Thank you very much, deputy First Minister, for giving way. I acknowledge a lot of what she has said; she is talking some sense. I do not agree with everything that she is saying, but I acknowledge that she is right that there are certain strictures and limitations. If we are agreed that the flying of paramilitary…
I am grateful to Mr Allister for giving way. He mentioned that he thought that it was bad — I agree — when national flags descend into tatters. If he thinks that that is bad but no public body feels that it has the power or its staff do not feel safe enough to take them down, does that not imply that we need better?…
As my colleague Sinéad McLaughlin said, we will support the Alliance motion very strongly. We will not support the amendment. Respectfully, I will explain why we cannot support the Ulster Unionist amendment, but I acknowledge the good intentions and goodwill with which that amendment was submitted. I also acknowledge…
I am grateful to the Minister for that detailed answer. It is important to say that, in the post-RHI context, it is deeply disappointing that such an important appointment was made without proper internal or external recruitment. Did the Minister, in agreeing the secondment, speak to his ministerial colleagues? I…
I assume, Mr Speaker, that that was not in any way directed at me. First Minister, thank you very much for that update. It is welcome that the NSMC is meeting again after three years. That will be the height of my speech. You talked about the all-island strategic rail review. I am pleased to see that it was a subject…
Minister, there are reports today that you have told Executive colleagues that the Treasury has told your Department that there will be no progress on an increased funding package. I presume that that means an improvement to the fiscal framework for the next two years. Is that true? Can you confirm exactly where…
Minister, the question referenced the 10X Economy strategy. As far as I can ascertain, "10X" is a slogan coined by a US self-help expert and not a real, meaningful target for the Northern Ireland economy. Will there be specific targets around growing the all-Ireland economy? Will they be in the Programme for…
First Minister, I specifically asked you about the phrase "open borders". That is important because our parties have fought for a long time to have the most open border on this island for goods and people. If you agree with that, why is your party leadership using a hard-right dog whistle to talk about open borders?…
I will speak uncharacteristically briefly, perhaps, on the motion. The SDLP — the Opposition — will support today's applicability motion. The previous Member to speak, Philip McGuigan, who is the Chair of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee, outlined the fact that no trade bodies raised any objections…
Mr O'Toole asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the First Minister agrees that we need an open border on this island, something that the SDLP has spent years arguing for, for goods and people, and whether she agrees that, should a united Ireland be successfully achieved, we will need the most…
Motion Amendment · Private Members' Motion · to “Display of Flags, Emblems and Banners”
Display of Flags, Emblems and Banners - Amendment 2 Leave out all after ‘deputy First Minister to’ and insert: ‘introduce legislation within this mandate to give effect to the proposed code of practice on the flying of flags and to include a commitment to such legislation in the Programme for Government.’
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline indicative dates for the introduction of legislation to amend The Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure what additional rail provision, including services and signage, will be provided at (i) Finaghy train station; and (ii) Balmoral train station to support a successful 2028 UEFA European Football Championship and other events at Casement Park.
Minister, you mentioned the joint review that is being undertaken between your Department and the Justice Department. Do you specifically plan or intend to make a joint announcement on next steps with the Justice Minister? When might we expect that?
I am grateful to the Member for giving way. I am intrigued by the idea that delaying for one year as opposed to two years would put an undue and unnecessary burden on the Department and make it unable, for example, to deal with waiting lists. In that case, why not simply delay it indefinitely? It seems implausible…
Does the Member agree that this and our amendments are really about honesty and competence in government? If the Executive parties regret the legislation's passing in 2022, they should have the honesty to say that they do not want to implement it. However, if they think that there are no logistical reasons why it…