Reassessment in progress: every record is being assessed again under the updated rubric. 34,062 of 97,616 records done (34.9%). Rankings are paused until it finishes, so results from the old and new rubrics are never mixed. Progress details
Mrs Sinéad Ennis: Assembly records
All of Mrs Sinéad Ennis’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I beg to move Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. The Commission has a statutory duty, under section 40 of the Northern Ireland Act, to provide the Assembly with, or ensure that the Assembly is provided with, the property, staff and services required for the Assembly's purposes. The Commission develops a draft…
Ms Ennis asked the Minister of Education, as a follow-on from the previous question, whether he will consider a SEN-first approach to address the ongoing difficulties surrounding school placements for children with special educational needs.
Go raibh maith agat, First Minister. I welcome those comments. Does the First Minister agree that upgrading the A5 should be a priority for Ministers, North and South, and that work to upgrade the A5 should start sooner rather than later?
Ms Ennis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to confirm that the A5 remains an Executive flagship priority, given that, this year already, too many families have experienced untold hurt, heartbreak and loss as a result of the failure take forward its upgrade.
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I struggle to think of any circumstance where a person would be better off or happier being forced to stay in a marriage where, to quote Mr Allister, they were married to a "philanderer" who was mistreating them, but perhaps that is just me. I thank the majority of…
Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Budget for the Financial Year 2024-25 That this Assembly notes the report of the Audit Committee (NIA 17/22-27) on the scrutiny of the Assembly Commission’s budget for the financial year 2024-25, as laid before the Assembly on 9 April 2024; and agrees the Assembly Commission’s…
Northern Ireland Assembly Financial Assistance for Political Parties Scheme 2024 That, in accordance with section 2 of the Financial Assistance for Political Parties Act (Northern Ireland) 2000, this Assembly approves the revised scheme NIA 32/22-27 laid before the Assembly on 16 May 2024 for payments to political…
I thank my constituency colleague Cathy Mason for bringing this important debate to the Chamber tonight. I thank everybody for their contributions so far. I echo what Cathy said about it being a crisis in SEN. It is not just a crisis in South Down, although, unfortunately, we are the unwelcome headline when it comes…
My question is in a similar vein to Paul Frew's. Perhaps the Minister is in a position to give us further details on the formal arrangements between the Probation Service and the Probation Board, specifically in relation to the management of sex offenders.
I, too, want to reflect on the announcement yesterday of the awarding of the contract to build Narrow Water bridge. It definitely feels like a watershed moment for the people of South Down and those who live in the Carlingford lough region, because, of course, it is a cross-border project. The people whom I represent…
The High Court judgement yesterday proves that the British Government's Illegal Migration Act is unworkable and is not compliant with human rights. We want to see an immigration system that is fair, effective, enforced and, above all, human rights-compliant. The legislation is cruel and inhumane and has been rightly…
I previously raised with the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs the issue of a support scheme for the farming community recently impacted by the flooding. As the Minister said, what individual Ministers do with their funding envelope is for those Ministers. However, the Minister has previously…
I appreciate the Minister's very detailed answer and the announcement about Knockevin. As he said, South Down is an area of particular pressure. That is the case across the BT34 and BT35 postcode areas. Has the Minister considered adopting a SEN-first approach for school placements for September 2024 and beyond?
The Narrow Water bridge is much anticipated by the people of South Down. The First Minister will know that that project is about more than just infrastructure; it is key to unlocking the huge tourism and economic potential that we have in South Down and across the Carlingford lough region. Is the Minister in a…
Since taking office, the Minister has set out a clear and positive strategy on how to develop our economy. Will he ensure that his Department's budget aligns with that economic strategy?
I appreciate the Minister's answer, but the farming community feels very much left behind in help and support following the recent flooding event. I appreciate the dire financial situation that Departments are facing after years of Tory underfunding, but will the Minister commit to continuing to raise the issue with…
To ask the Minister of Education what plans his Department has to increase Special Educational Needs provision in South Down to ensure children receive a place to start in September.
Pregnancy loss and baby loss is probably one of the most traumatic things that anybody can go through. I pay tribute to Kellie Armstrong for sharing her experience. I am sure that it is not easy to recall those experiences. She put it more eloquently than any of us could. I thank her for sharing her experiences with…
Extension of Sitting on Monday 15 April 2024 under Standing Order 10(3A) That, in accordance with Standing Order 10(3A), the sitting on Monday 15 April 2024 be extended to no later than 7.30pm.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline what financial support measures he intends to provide to farmers as a result of flooding.
I take the Member's point. When it comes to how Youth Assembly Members are selected, the recruitment is a random process. It was co-designed by the young people. First, all applications were anonymised, and 54 Members were then selected on a constituency basis. It was about trying to ensure geographic spread, but I…
The Northern Ireland Youth Assembly successfully recruited its second cohort of 90 Members aged 12 to 16 in October 2023. As with the first cohort, the new Youth Assembly Members are a diverse group of young people from every constituency and represent all applicable section 75 groups. The first plenary meeting of the…
I thank the Member for his supplementary question. As the victim of an attack in my constituency office, the perpetrator of which was recently given a custodial sentence, I assure him that I take the issue seriously, as, I know, do other Commission members. I assure him that we will discuss that today and at further…
I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission takes the security of Members extremely seriously. It was on the agenda of recent meetings before the Assembly Commission was reconstituted. The PSNI has historically taken the lead on personal security and crime prevention advice, providing that on an…