Debate contribution: El Niño
Debate contribution by Mr Gareth Wilson on .
- MLA
- Mr Gareth Wilson
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 13 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- El Niño
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5789942
Read the official Assembly record
Text
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can I seek your guidance on a matter of ministerial accountability? The AERA Minister recently refused to answer Assembly questions seeking basic factual information about the operation of his Department, instead citing an ongoing independent review. The information requested concerns current departmental structures and functions and has not required the Minister to prejudice any findings or recommendations. Can you advise whether it is in order for the Minister to rely on an ongoing review as a reason not to answer straightforward factual questions? Does that risk undermining Members' ability to hold Ministers properly to account? Can you issue any direction in that regard?
110 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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