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.
As I said in response to some of the queries raised in relation to the grant, there will be an opportunity to look at the criteria when we are laying the regulations. That issue may arise, but, predominantly, the existing criteria support homeowners who have responsibility for their property and are dealing with the…
Thank you, Minister, for giving way. Apologies for intervening in the middle of your winding-up speech. I have just vacated my seat on the Committee. I will, however, retain a keen interest in this area of work. I welcome the legislation. The changes to the homeowner flood protection grant scheme are welcome, as are…
Yes. It is related to farms. Farms have a metered supply, and they are allowed to offset a percentage of their costs against their domestic usage. How will you square the circle of somebody having a domestic house on a farm? How do you define the hosepipe ban there? Ultimately, they are paying for water but have a…
I thank and welcome the new Chair of the Committee for Infrastructure. I hope that we can work together as well as I did with Deborah Erskine. To echo other Members' comments, I too wish Deborah and her husband all the very best in what, I hope, is a very exciting time for them both. I look forward to hearing her news…
My comments will be short. First, I congratulate my colleague, Peter, who is taking up the Committee Chair. Deborah is probably watching. I do not know which camera to wave at — normally, we get an indication — but I wish her well, and I wish Peter well. I have only two brief comments. A lot of the issues have been…
I am pleased to speak in support of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill that the Minister has introduced. It is practical and much-needed legislation that tackles a range of issues from flooding and drainage to sustainable development. The Bill does so in a way that benefits people and the…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill at its Second Stage as a member of the Infrastructure Committee. As others have said, the principle of the Bill, as outlined by the Minister, is, ultimately, to improve water management and flood resilience in Northern Ireland — I think that we can all buy into that —…
I join other Members in welcoming Peter Martin as the new Chair of the Infrastructure Committee. I am sure that we will continue to work constructively together as a Committee. I also send my very best wishes to Deborah and her family as they embark on a whole new adventure. While the Water, Sustainable Drainage and…
Before I make my remarks, I will echo the comments of the new Chair of the Infrastructure Committee. I send my best wishes to Deborah and her husband and wish her all the very best. I look forward to seeing her back in her position on the Committee. In the meantime, I look forward to working with the new Chair, Mr…
I am OK for time, I think, Mr Deputy Speaker. I do not want to be chastised for straying too far from the subject of the debate, but I want to make a few brief remarks. I associate myself with the remarks directed to Mrs Erskine. While her presence on the Committee and in the Chamber will be missed, we wish her all…
I welcome the new Chairperson to the Committee. I look forward to working with him. I also welcome Mr McNulty — he is not here — to the Committee. I extend my best wishes to Deborah and her family. Hopefully, she is watching, so I will give her a wee thumbs up. I welcome the opportunity to speak at the Second Stage of…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Last week, during questions to the Finance Minister, he responded to a question from me by stating as fact that there had been no £50 million underspend in what is called "financial transactions capital". In fact, as per his ministerial statement, earlier this year, on the out-turn for…
Matters to do with the family courts and scheduling of business more generally are largely judicial issues, but I referenced earlier in Question Time the work that is being done to speed up justice. The options that we are looking at include out-of-court disposals, addressing, for example, the jurisdiction of some of…
I want people to be assured that robust mechanisms are in place for law enforcement agencies to work collaboratively and on a cross-border basis to tackle the threat posed by drugs through the joint agency task force (JATF). The cross-border policing strategy also acts as an overarching delivery strategy for the…
Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Minister, will you outline to the House what cross-border mechanisms, beyond those outlined in your previous answer, are open to you in tackling organised crime?
I thank the Member for the question. The BBC 'Spotlight' and 'Panorama' investigations highlighted that threat, but it also highlighted some of the successes in tackling and disrupting those routes, including work with the National Crime Agency (NCA). Border security and international relations is a reserved matter,…
I have raised that issue on a number of occasions in response to Members' questions in the Chamber and when questioned publicly about it. The right to ask the question is only one element. As I said, there is also a right to tell. We have very good public protection arrangements in Northern Ireland. We should not…
Minister, we know that there are 200 people in North Belfast who have been convicted of sex crimes, but the right to disclose puts the burden on those who want to protect their local community. Why do you not believe that we should go further and ensure that that right is promoted across society? What work have you…
Powers are already available under the current disclosure regime. There is the power to ask, so if someone in the community has a concern about an individual and their interactions, they can ask the PSNI. There is also a power to tell, and the PSNI can use that when it believes that an individual's behaviour has come…
It is essential. Ultimately, people would not be behaving in this way were there not those who are perpetually on social media, on mainstream media, in the press and in other places perpetuating falsehoods on immigration and false narratives about the level of immigration in Northern Ireland and the impact that it is…
Thank you, Minister, for your kind words. Thank you also for your response. I certainly share your views on the abhorrent scenes that we are seeing from East Belfast on social media. Racism and so-called vigilantism have no place in Northern Ireland's future. Minister, what is your assessment of the importance of a…
I absolutely will, not only as Justice Minister but as a Member of the legislative Assembly for East Belfast. There is absolutely no place in our society for the hate, racism and intimidation that we have witnessed on our streets not just in recent weeks but in recent months. I urge people not to get involved in that…
The Chief Constable has made a number of asks, but the first and most important one was made during the period of riots when we needed to rely on mutual aid. We were able to get an additional £5 million for his budget to cover that. You will know that I am on record on saying that, whilst that was absolutely necessary…
I agree absolutely with you, Minister. The issue is for political leadership, but involved in that will be the extra resource that the police and others require to tackle the issue. What ask has the Chief Constable made in that regard? How have you been able to facilitate that ask?
I meet the Chief Constable on a regular and ongoing basis, usually at least every month and often every fortnight. We have raised the issues of hate crime, racism, anti-immigrant sentiment and violence, and wider prejudice at pretty much every one of those meetings. It is a priority for me. I am incredibly concerned…