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MLA Culture Wars

Reassessment in progress: every record is being assessed again under the updated rubric. 6,165 of 97,616 records done (6.3%). Rankings are paused until it finishes, so results from the old and new rubrics are never mixed. Progress details

6.3%

Mr Peter McReynolds: Assembly records

All of Mr Peter McReynolds’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.

576 records match, page 2 of 24.

  2. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I thank the Member for his point. It is clear that he has thought about and forensically engaged with the Bill. I do not foresee that happening. I view the Bill as giving councils clarity. A number of points that have come up today, such as about the term "causes or permits", are about giving councils clarity and…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  3. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I did a public consultation in, I believe, the summer of 2024. Apologies if I misspeak; it feels so long ago. From memory, I think that it was launched in December, and the public were widely engaged. I think that we had around 800 responses. I had to chase the Construction Employers Federation a little because I was…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  6. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I thank the Member for giving way and for his detailed memory on what happened at Tullynagardy. I think that I was one of a handful of people watching that live that night. Resource has come up today as a potential issue. Does the Member agree that a lot of time and resource was wasted by having to go to the PAC on…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  7. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I welcomed the opportunity to interact with the Committee before the call for evidence went out in the summer. That topic came up during the course of that Committee session, and I flagged it with the drafters when the Bill was being drafted. The phrase "wholly exceptional circumstances" is difficult to define,…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  10. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I thank the Member for her contribution so far. On her point, we need to constantly remember the expediency test — the risk that could be there for the felling of a tree. I am not aware that there are many TPOs across Northern Ireland. One thing that I have noticed in my consultations over the course of the past four…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  11. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    As I said, I have engaged widely, working alongside the Woodland Trust. I have met contacts across the UK. I spoke in London about the merits of the Bill. It was warmly received by everybody around the room. There is expertise in the UK. There is certainly expertise in Northern Ireland through the Woodland Trust. As I…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  14. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    Out of the 11 councils, nine have maps. Some use electronic maps, while some use paper maps, but they are still maps. It is just Mid Ulster District Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council that are falling behind a little bit. The two officers there are doing a stellar job, but those are the councils…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  15. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    TPOs do not get in the way of development. I have just made that point. They are about being mindful of the presence of trees. More than that, ancient woodland is irreplaceable. My colleague behind me was looking to come in on a point about, I am sure, Tullynagardy Wood. Once ancient woodland is gone, it is gone.

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  16. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I thank the Member for giving way. I have just realised that, given the line of Infrastructure Committee Chairs, past and present, it is like having the ghosts of Christmas past and present in front of me That thought just came to me.

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  18. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    The Member makes a valid point. It is one that I discussed with DFI officials, who are in the Chamber today. I initially tried to go along with what is done in England, where the buffer zone is 50 metres, but we realised that there were issues with that, so we scaled it back to 15 metres. We need to remember that less…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  20. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I thank the Member for giving way. At present, it is based on expediency, as in if a tree is going to be damaged or felled for works taking place nearby or for whatever reason. The next test is amenity. What does "amenity" mean? It is not defined in the 2011 Act. Ecosystem services were endorsed recently by DAERA and…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  21. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    That is precisely why we are trying to change the law regarding "cause or permit". Between 2019 and 2022, there were 144 TPO breaches. In those cases, the TPOs were not enforced, and none of the breaches led to prosecution. If we tighten up the law and enforcement, we can resource our council officials and make sure…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  22. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I thank the Member for giving way and the previous Infrastructure Chair for pointing out that the EFM states that the cost attributable will be "modest". Woodland Trust polling showed that 75% of respondees are supportive, regardless of the cost. The principle of the Bill establishes the increased protections that the…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  23. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    The former Chair of the Infrastructure Committee has a keen eagle eye for that point. It is one that I raised with the Woodland Trust directly. The Woodland Trust is not fully satisfied with that; it finds that to be a very prescriptive set of definitions. We could absolutely work on that in the Committee Stage. I…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  24. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    • Private Members' Business

    I beg to move I welcome the opportunity to open the Second Stage debate on the Tree Protection Bill. I start by putting on record my sincere gratitude to Barbara Love and Frank Geddis for their advice and support in getting the Bill to this point and for putting up with my phone calls, which, usually, as a party…

    Awaiting analysis

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  25. Debate contribution: Neurology: Waiting Times

    • Oral Answers to Questions

    I thank the Minister for his response. Minister, given the progressive nature of many neurological conditions and the need to act quickly when they are discovered, will you outline what steps are being taken to reduce the risk of a deterioration in people's conditions while they wait for that crucial first neurology…

    Not analysed

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

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