Debate contribution: Storm Éowyn: Executive Response
Debate contribution by Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly on .
- MLA
- Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 27 January 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Ministerial Statement
- Heading
- Storm Éowyn: Executive Response
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4758783
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for her important question. As I indicated earlier, there is a vulnerable persons' cell, which is coordinating work as part of the civil contingencies approach. That is carried out by way of a number of different measures. In particular, NIE has been dealing with what it calls its "vulnerable list". It has been contacting those people by phone and has visited some of them with hot water and food and to check their welfare. Many of NIE's meter readers have been doing that, which has been important, and I thank them for it. That is not something that has had a lot of visibility, but I have no doubt that it means a lot to those vulnerable people. In addition, the trusts have been dealing with about 800 vulnerable people. Initially, there was huge concern for those with medical equipment, for example. Much of that equipment runs on battery packs as opposed to mains electricity, but the battery packs require to be recharged using electricity. There is a lot of concern about that, which is why the situation is being monitored by the trusts. There was a multi-agency approach to that, in order to make sure that as many of those people as possible were supported. We are very aware, however, that there will be many people who are not on a formal vulnerable list but who are, nevertheless, vulnerable. That could include older people who are sitting in a cold home with no electricity and no way of contacting people, or people with a variety of illnesses who may not be able to get into a car to go and get help and support. That is why we are asking for local information. Some of that has come through, and there are people who are in their 80s and 90s, who are isolated, cold and without electricity and the ability even to make themselves a cup of tea. We are appealing to neighbours and friends in local communities, as well as the local churches, to identify those people. If you have not seen your neighbour or heard from them, please check in on them and signpost them to the support and help that is there. We will try our best to get those people food, blankets and help and support until we can get those reconnections made.
392 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.53 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.43 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.36 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.14 |
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 0.05 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.01 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:46 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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