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Mr Paul Givan: Assembly records
All of Mr Paul Givan’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I can update the House on that. The financial year for teachers is different to that for, for example, health workers. It runs not from April to April but from September to September. Therefore, the point at which such matters crystallise is not the same as in some of the other public-sector organisations that we have…
I cannot, obviously, prejudge the report's recommendations. I am looking forward to receiving the report. It was at my request that the panel was established. It came about as a result of the discussions to resolve industrial relations on teachers' pay last year and the connected issues on workload. In order to find a…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 5 and 8 together. Since the independent review of teacher workload panel was appointed in May 2025, it has undertaken a structured programme of work with the aim of submitting a final report by the end of November. That has included a review of existing reports…
Constituents have raised that issue with me. When it comes to pupils wearing coats to school, it seems that schools give priority to having the school uniform and emblem on display, even when children and young people need protection from inclement weather. Schools need to reflect on that. It is important that our…
We sought legal advice on the draft guidelines throughout the process. The guidelines were tested for their workability through focus groups that we conducted with teachers and parents in June. That highlighted the need for further legal advice at that time to ensure that there was clarity and that the guidelines…
There are two points to consider. The first is that we are consulting on a cap. We made provision in the legislation that we could introduce a cap. The cap could be made up of two component parts: either a financial limit or a limit on the number of items that pertain to a school's uniform provision. Alternatively, it…
The guidelines on school uniforms follow the provisions in the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill, which passed its Final Stage in the Assembly on 13 October. The legislation will come into operation on the day after the Bill gains Royal Assent, at which time the duty on the Department of Education to…
I will do my best to link my answer to the question. Physical literacy is an important aspect of the school curriculum. Principals have raised issues about the lack of facilities to enable pupils to get 120 minutes of physical education, particularly outdoor activity, a week. The pilot scheme is therefore designed to…
I hope to make an announcement about that soon. A call for applications was issued in August. It went to all primary schools seeking to be considered for the pilot exercise. Some 213 schools responded for inclusion in the pilot exercise. That indicates the level of demand and need, but, in order to have an effective…
I am aware of those issues, and they are a cause of deep frustration to me; indeed, I am concerned that the increased financial pressures on my Department are a result of the withdrawal of services by some of our health trusts and the Department of Health as it seeks to mitigate its projected overcommitment. Schools…
Officials are working through the necessary checks on the schools that have self-nominated, and I will make an announcement soon. It is my intention then to issue a written statement detailing the primary schools that will participate in the pilot exercise for covered outdoor sports space provision.
I have engaged on the issue not just in my Department but with the Education Authority as the proposer of the new school and as the body responsible for taking forward the capital requirement of £20 million that was indicated for the day-1 costs associated with the single site. I will continue to engage on the issue.…
I thank the Member for the question. Mr Bradley has been a vociferous campaigner for the three schools concerned and clearly wants the single-site solution. He has made that clear to me on a number of occasions when he has made representations on behalf of his constituency. I know that he will continue to…
I understand the frustration but also the ambition for the school to be delivered in a new-build setting. As I outlined, when the development proposal was approved, it was not anticipated that there would be a £20 million capital requirement for a day-1 solution to provide a single-site facility. The Department faces…
The Education Authority (EA), as the proposer of the development proposal to establish the new Causeway Academy, is proceeding with its implementation. The new Causeway Academy will open in September 2026 and will operate across the three existing sites. The EA is working with the school’s principal designate on the…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and thanks to my friend and colleague Robbie Butler for securing the Adjournment debate. I know that the Chair of the Infrastructure Committee will also make some comments in his role. I will not elaborate on some of the points that Mr Butler has made. I agree with a lot of what he has…
First, I apologise to the House: I walked between the Minister of Justice and Mr Stewart while she was speaking to him. I did not realise until afterwards, but I know that that is not normal protocol. My apologies for that. Mr Speaker, I ask for an extra minute to answer the question for urgent oral answer, after…
Mr Speaker, I will not be taking any interventions. I welcome the opportunity to respond to the debate and to take the opportunity to expose the toxic mix of antisemitism, anti-unionism and hypocrisy that is at the heart of the motion. The motion was proposed by a man who has never condemned the murder of over 1,200…
FlaggedSectarianism, hate crime and community relationsCriteria met: Identity framing, Sectarian or communal antagonism, Dog-whistle messaging, Controversy escalation.
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Transforming early learning and childcare has been a key priority for me since I took up the office of Minister of Education. The priority to: "Deliver More Affordable, Accessible, High-Quality Early Learning and Childcare", as set out in the Programme for Government, demonstrates the…
The Member should listen to the Ulster Farmers' Union's position on her own party's Agriculture Minister and his suitability for that ministerial office. Members have set a very low bar for passing no-confidence motions. Indeed, one Minister is elected, with cross-community support, by the Assembly, so be careful what…
FlaggedReligion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice)Criteria met: Identity framing, Sectarian or communal antagonism, Dog-whistle messaging, Controversy escalation.
I challenge the Member or any Member to point out in the press release what the political message was. There was no political message. The objection is that I visited a school in Israel. That is the objection from Members who are opposed to this. There is nothing in the press release that had any political connotation…
FlaggedSectarianism, hate crime and community relationsCriteria met: Identity framing, Dog-whistle messaging, Controversy escalation.
I had the opportunity to visit Israel last week. What I was able to bear witness to was intolerable suffering and loss of life at the hands of terrorists. Across the Middle East conflict in Gaza, Palestinians have suffered terribly and endured loss of life, with Hamas using and abusing its own population as human…
I associate myself with the remarks made by Dr Aiken and make a similar declaration of interest. Last week, I had the privilege of visiting Israel and hearing the stories of human tragedy in that community. Today, I put on record some of the voices that I heard. Just as others seek to silence them and cancel them, I…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice)Criteria met: Identity framing.
I do not accept that at all, and nor do the school principals and the teaching professionals who take a different view from that of the Children's Commissioner, the Children's Law Centre and the RCN. They do not agree with that analysis either. Has the Member listened to the teaching profession? Has he listened to…
Not only have those two organisations withdrawn, but health organisations have withdrawn. It is really disappointing that they have withdrawn. When people walk away from the table and no longer wish to engage, it does a disservice to the people affected by the important issues that we are trying to deal with. It is a…