Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am concerned that the Justice Minister may have misled the Chamber in her answer to questions about Bailey the dog: specifically, that prison officers are and were trained in the deployment of emotional support dogs, including Bailey; and, secondly, that a suitability…
Money for the just transition fund for agriculture is something that I bid for from the UK Government last year. We were not successful, so I engaged with the Finance Minister, and we got £12 million this year. I want to see funding for a just transition increased, not just to tackle climate change but to tackle wider…
Thank you for your question, Michelle. We have to make tough decisions to ensure that we balance our departmental budgets. As Minister, I think that it is important that we do that. On the opportunities that lie ahead, we will have a three-year resource budget and a four-year capital budget. I have been engaging with…
I will need to engage with my officials to determine the outcome of the consultation, which recently closed. I will do that, and I will then write to you setting out some envisaged timescales. We have to make sure that we are doing remediation correctly, because the site is very complex. We will be guided by experts.…
Thank you, Minister, for the update. As you are well aware, local people, organisations and groups are very keen to continue to engage with you and the Department. Do you have any timescales for when there may be further public engagement with local organisations and residents?
I thank officials who organised that engagement and consultation with local people. I also thank the Member and other public representatives — other MLAs, the local MP, the mayor and council's chief executive — for engaging directly with me on the issue. We will consider the feedback that was received. I have given an…
I appreciate that, and I know that you are only a part-funder of the scheme, but what really concerns me is access to funds, particularly in rural areas. Anything that you can do to promote the scheme and to encourage as many people in East Antrim to apply to it will be much appreciated.
It is important that everyone get a fair crack of the whip and that that be done through having a proper process in place. I am happy to look at that issue, but it is important that, when we are evaluating applications, we do so in a fair manner.
Thank you, Eóin. The journey to net zero is the defining challenge of our generation. It is important to listen to the views of young people. The Department has reached out to young people in our local schools to ask them for their views. The feedback from children and young people has been excellent, with…
Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Minister, what is your assessment of the importance of ensuring that young people are included in conversations about protecting our environment and tackling climate change?
As an Assembly and Executive, we committed to delivering a climate action plan in the climate change legislation and in the Programme for Government. Developing a climate action plan has been a significant amount of work, and I thank officials for that. The policies and proposals laid out in the draft plan are…
The Minister will be aware of my ongoing desire, and that of his party colleague, to get that service in place and delivered before Christmas. Will the Minister fulfil the Christmas wish of Miss McAllister and I for Santa to put the support in place so that we can have late-night public transport before Christmas?
Thank you, Mr Brett. I take my responsibilities as Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs very seriously. We have an environmental responsibility to move more people out of the private car and on to buses or trains. That is a good way to go. We also have an opportunity to encourage active travel —…
Thank you, Nuala. I thank the all-party group on animal welfare, which is ably chaired by John, for its engagement on these issues. We want to do these things together and collaboratively with stakeholders. The Department's code of practice for the welfare of dogs recommends to the public that only positive…
I thank the Minister for that comprehensive answer. It is clear that animal welfare is an issue that you are passionate about, and on which you are taking action in your Department. Minister, will you provide an update on where you are on banning shock collars?
In May, I published my animal welfare pathway. It represents the most ambitious package of reforms for this area in over a decade, the majority of which will be taken forward through secondary legislation, which is a quick and effective way to improve protection for companion animals in Northern Ireland. The animal…
We have a number of schemes through the tackling rural poverty and social isolation (TRPSI) framework, which is a rural micro-capital support scheme to support small businesses in rural areas. I can send the Member more details on that. It has been very popular.
We have a role to play, not just as the Department with the lead responsibility for rural affairs but in working with the Department for the Economy. If there are specific issues that the Member wants me to progress, I am happy to do that. Innovation is a key part of our Department, and we have a division dedicated to…
The impacts have been numerous, particularly in relation to the mental health of farmers and the concerns and anxieties that they have and on the sustainability of farming in Northern Ireland, with the potential land issues and how it could be broken up. I will continue to make representations to the UK Government…
I thank the Minister for that response. He touched on my next question: does the Minister accept that, without changes to the British Government's inheritance tax proposals, the future sustainability of family farms here could be undermined? Will he give that commitment to continue to press the British Government to…
I have been consistent in my opposition to the family farm tax because of the disproportionate and detrimental impact that it would have on farmers in Northern Ireland. As a result, I have made representations to the UK Government on multiple occasions. I will, again, make representations to the UK Government this…