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Mr William Irwin: Assembly records
All of Mr William Irwin’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the energy efficiency measures that will be retrofitted to the 600 houses proposed to be purchased by the Housing Executive for temporary accommodation over the next three years.
I thank the First Minister for her response. Does she agree that the rights of older people are important? Many older people feel that decisions are made without their consent even though they have the capacity to make those decisions themselves.
I thank the Minister for his statement. On avian flu, the depopulation of flocks can have a huge impact on farm businesses and their cash flow. Will the Minister assure the House that his officials will work closely with those affected to ensure that farms can be repopulated as soon as possible?
I thank the Minister for his response. He will be aware — he has touched on it — that, at any time, between 500 and 600 beds are occupied by patients who have been deemed fit for discharge. Does the Minister agree that the delivery of care packages is key to addressing the bed shortage in our hospitals?
I thank the Minister for his response. The Minister said that he met the British Dental Association. Its representatives have outlined their concerns about the funding of the service. What action will the Minister take to put in place a general dentistry model that reflects the true cost of dental care?
Mr Irwin asked the Minister of Health, given that he will be aware of concerns about domiciliary care, particularly in rural areas where, in many cases, it is difficult for care packages to be administered, what plans he has to improve the delivery of care packages in those areas.
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline any engagement they will have with the newly appointed Commissioner for Older People regarding the protection of older people’s rights.
I thank the Minister for his response. What action is he taking to ensure that concerns from his members of staff, particularly in jobs and benefits offices, are heard and that action is taken?
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail his plans to repair the damage caused by Storm Éowyn to Gosford Forest Park.
In relation to environmental issues, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency's (NIEA) response time to planning applications is dismal, to say the least. What plans does the Minister have to provide more staff to deal with the current backlog?
In other regions of the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, they have had to deal with the culling of wildlife before seeing a reduction in TB in cattle. Therefore, does the Minister accept that TB in wildlife will have to be dealt with if TB is to be eradicated in Northern Ireland?
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the value of vehicle damage claims paid out to drivers for damage sustained on roads in the Newry and Armagh constituency in 2024.
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline the proposed actions that the Task and Finish Group will undertake as part of his Department’s zero tolerance approach to benefit fraud.
I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that there is great concern about the proposed "active farmer" issue and that those deemed by the Department to be inactive have a very short time frame in which to transfer their entitlements?
Mr Irwin asked the Minister of Health, given Members' awareness of the success of the cross-border healthcare scheme that he mentioned in answer to an earlier question, whether the reopening of that scheme is a priority for him.
Prayer of Annulment: The Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 That the Animals (Identification, Records, Movement and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 (SR 2025/11) be annulled.
My question is a bit wider and is about the DAERA application for nitrates. Farmers and form-fillers have brought to my attention today the fact that they cannot access the website for their nitrates application. The deadline is 1 March, and, as yet, they have not been able to access the website. It was supposed to…
Does the Minister accept that a 15% penalty can equate to many thousands, or tens of thousands, of pounds for a farmer? Never mind his regime; what he wants to do is bring us back to draconian measures from the European Union. That is the situation, and many, even in his Department, accept that privately.