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.
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the Commissioner for the Irish Language is subject to the same transparency and disclosure expectations as Departments and arm’s-length bodies when responding to Assembly committees.
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail any assessment that has been made of the statement by the Commissioner for the Irish Language that constantly speaking out against the protection of the Irish language as provided for in the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 may not be…
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether guidance has been (i) requested by; and (ii) issued to, the Commissioner for the Irish Language regarding cooperation with Assembly committees.
I support the motion but regret the fact that it contains nothing that will bring the laudable aspiration that it articulates to fruition. The motion does not address a fundamental question: why does Northern Ireland lag significantly behind other parts of the UK on the issue? The answer lies in the choices made…
Can the Minister explain to the House why the Southern Health and Social Care Trust deviated from guidance from the NHS cervical screening programme? If the Southern Trust had stayed within those guidelines, Lynsey Courtney and Erin Harbinson would be alive today, yet there is still no public inquiry.
Minister, how many approved social housing new builds are currently on hold due to lack of sewerage connection? Additionally, when did you last meet the Minister for Infrastructure to address that problem, which is crippling the economy and preventing houses from being built right across Northern Ireland?
Minister, I previously raised with you the need to bring forward legislation to enact a badger cull. You responded with bluster. More biosecurity assessments and advice will not put bread on the table for farmers whose herds are the only things being eradicated. When can farmers expect progress on the eradication of…
Northern Ireland Water is responsible for the discharge of 200,000 tons of sewage and 70 tons of phosphorus into Lough Neagh's catchment each year. It is time to stop using farmers as the scapegoats for Lough Neagh turning green. Minister, what timeline have you set with your colleague, the Minister for…
The SDLP motion is fundamentally dishonest. However, we cannot let that get in the way as the SDLP attempts to hold on to Sinn Féin's coat-tails. The motion pretends concern about the results of the elections in Great Britain and claims that they are grounds for a united Ireland. Really? In reality, it would not have…
FlaggedConstitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereigntyCriteria met: Identity framing, Dog-whistle messaging.
I raise the lack of respect for fundamental freedom shown by the Irish Language Commissioner, Pól Deeds. For weeks, he defied the powers of a Committee of the House to which he is accountable. He sought to hide correspondence that he had had with the 'Belfast Telegraph' about an interview in which he not only…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policyCriteria met: Controversy escalation.
Mr Gaston asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, given that bovine TB will cost the Department at least £60 million this year, and the Ulster Farmers' Union research shows that it will cost farmers a further £96 million per year, whether the Minister's outlining of the blueprint for TB…
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the amount that has been spent on legal fees by (i) the Commissioner for the Irish Language; (ii) the Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and Ulster British Tradition; and (iii) the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, broken down by (a) financial…
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail any media company that has been employed to promote the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme outside Northern Ireland, including a breakdown of costs.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, in light of the 2006 Record of Decision by Ministers which set the staffing complement at the Loughs Agency, and which was subsequently reinforced in a joint letter issued in July 2025, whether the agency is currently operating above its agreed staff…
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) whether he will commission a Joint Evaluation and Grading Support review of staffing within the Loughs Agency, in light of a 2006 Record of Decision by Ministers, made in the absence of the North/South Ministerial Council, which provided…
To ask the Minister for Communities whether he plans to undertake a comprehensive review of homelessness legislation during the current Assembly mandate, including a particular focus on strengthening measures to prevent homelessness.
To ask the Minister of Finance whether any consideration has been given to using Barnett consequentials arising from special educational needs expenditure in England to establish a Northern Ireland equivalent of Education, Health and Care Plans.
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail Translink’s income in each of the last five years, broken down by income from (i) public transport fares; and (ii) private hire.
Motion Amendment · Private Members' Motion · to “Change on these Islands”
Change on these Islands - Amendment 2 Leave out all after ‘recent elections in’ and insert: ‘the rest of the UK; believes that any future UK Government must complete the task of Brexit by ensuring that the result of the 2016 EU referendum is fully implemented and that the whole of the United Kingdom, including…
Motion Amendment · Private Members' Motion · to “Post-19 Special Educational Needs Support”
Post-19 Special Educational Needs Support - Amendment 2 Leave out all after ‘available in other’ and insert: ‘parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in relation to statutory protections and transition planning; notes with concern the absence in Northern Ireland of a statutory framework equivalent to Education,…