All of Mr Timothy Gaston’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
If a pastor preaching John chapter three, verse 16 outside the hospital in Coleraine can result in a successful prosecution, it is not irrational to think that there could be ramifications for reading that same Bible verse inside the hospital. Does the Minister share my concerns that the very fact that the issue is…
I bring to the House a tale of two listed buildings. One is a beautiful building that is central to the history of Northern Ireland and its founding. The other is an ugly group of buildings that are judged to have no architectural merit. The first is Craigavon House, a historic Victorian mansion built in the 1870s and…
FlaggedLegacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarismCriteria met: Identity framing, Cultural grievance politics, Dog-whistle messaging, Controversy escalation.
Mr Gaston asked the Minister of Health, given that, in the aftermath of the Clive Johnston case, a number of pastors have contacted the Department of Health and the police to seek clarification on how safe access zone legislation applies to ordinary pastoral ministry in hospital settings, whether he has any plans to…
To ask the Assembly Commission, in relation to its Transgender Policy, to detail any consideration that was given to those in society who cannot share mixed sex spaces due to religious beliefs.
To ask the Assembly Commission, in relation to its Transgender Policy, to detail (i) why the Equality Impact Assessment did not consider Section 75 responsibilities across all groups; and (ii) how it intends to address this.
To ask the Assembly Commission whether its Transgender Policy addresses legal obligations to provide a safe workplace under Workplace Regulations 1993, including the provision of single sex toilets, showers and changing rooms based on biological sex as per Good Law Project v Equality and Human Rights Commission.
To ask the Assembly Commission whether the policy definition of transphobia includes disagreement with gender identity ideology or support for sex-based rights.
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issuesCriteria met: Dog-whistle messaging.
I thank the Minister for that intervention, but I did not hear him say that he would agree to meet me and those parents. He may have forgotten to leave that in. If he wants to come back in and commit in Hansard to that meeting, I would very much appreciate it. There are concerns about the Bill, but I see no reason…
It is the removal of the exemption for religious education. For clarity, it is essentially putting that provision in the Bill to take the removal out. Concerns have been raised with me on that very issue. I turn to clause 3. We have heard quite a bit about the safeguarding aspect, and, in essence, the majority of the…
Absolutely. It is very important to have that on the record and bring that up in the debate, because the removal of clause 2 is something that has largely been passed by. I sought assurance on that.
I certainly welcome the Minister's clarification on that, because I do have a concern that there is an imposition here of state inspections that will weaken the Churches' perceived control. However, the Minister has given that reassurance, and I trust that that is the case. Minister, can I take you on and ask you…
Indeed, they were champions of those pieces of legislation. Look at the climate change legislation as well. Based on its own record, the SDLP cannot lecture anybody else in the House. That party wants to get back into the Executive and take up ministerial posts. I have no doubt that, if people endorsed it, the SDLP…
What we have seen here is the blame game in all its glory. Members have been in full flow looking for media clips. I find it hard to follow Mr McCrossan, who is championing. He championed the 27% increase for MLAs to then have his wee flippant remarks, and I liken him to Keir Starmer, because, indeed, that is the man…
Will the €11·7 million bovine TB project include consideration of a Northern Ireland-wide badger cull, given the long-standing use of such measures in the Republic of Ireland and, indeed, in GB, or will the North Antrim farmer who is outside the current pilot area simply get more paperwork from you while their herd…
Can the Minister tell the House how many Loughs Agency staff appointments required retrospective approval from the North/South Ministerial Council because they had been made before approval was obtained?
The statement mentions the continued commitment to the A5. The judgement was a direct result of climate change legislation that was passed by the House and has to be owned by the House. Has the Minister asked her Executive colleagues to revisit the net zero policy not just in relation to the A5 but across the board?…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In the Commons, verbal abuse of a Member of Parliament is categorised as contempt of Parliament. Our Standing Orders make no mention of contempt of the Assembly. I believe that that is a serious defect. What will be done to address that in light of last Wednesday's Executive Office…
Last Wednesday, the Committee for the Executive Office hosted two panels as part of its evidence-gathering process on the race relations strategy. Members from both panels were highly political in the evidence that they presented to us. The second panel included Daniel Holder, a director of the Committee on the…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Immigration, asylum, race, ethnicity and TravellersCriteria met: Controversy escalation.
To ask the Assembly Commission to detail the amount of public money that was spent (i) developing; (ii) consulting upon; and (iii) implementing its Transgender Policy and associated guidance.
To ask the Assembly Commission for its assessment of the necessity for extensive transgender policy, monitoring and training structures in circumstances where no Assembly Commission staff identified as transgender in the relevant staff survey.
FlaggedGender, sexuality, abortion and related social issuesCriteria met: Dog-whistle messaging.
To ask the Assembly Commission to detail the legal basis on which transgender identity is treated within Assembly policy and guidance, given that sexual orientation, but not transgender identity, is referenced in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
To ask the Assembly Commission why no assessment was undertaken of the implications of the Transgender Policy for women-only spaces within Parliament Buildings, in spite of the issue being flagged during the development of the policy.
To ask the Assembly Commission whether any assessment was undertaken of the impact of the Transgender Policy on staff with religious objections to gender identity ideology.
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issuesCriteria met: Dog-whistle messaging.