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.
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to list which schools in (i) Foyle; (ii) West Tyrone; and (iii) East Londonderry, will be included in the latest tranche of part-time 20mph speed limit zones.
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline any (i) financial; and (ii) practical, assistance that is available through his Department and its arms' length bodies for local writers seeking support in getting their work published.
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail his assessment of (i) the possible closure of Riverside Theatre; and (ii) its impact on access to local art and culture.
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail how many constituents in Foyle are currently waiting for (i) a Disabled Facilities Grant application decision; and (ii) planning approval for a household adaptation related to disability.
I beg to introduce the Adult Protection Bill [NIA 16/22-27], which is a Bill to make provision for the purposes of protecting adults from harm; and for connected purposes.
In light of the fact that the Justice Minister is not here, for which I understand that there are good health reasons, and the fact that this would be our second debate in a row for which the relevant Minister were not here to account to the Opposition —. Not moved. On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.…
I appreciate the Member's giving way. Does he agree that a moratorium will be completely pointless if licences are granted and approved for companies to begin and extend the process of extraction?
I thank the Member for giving way. He has helpfully outlined Sinn Féin's position on its desire to see a moratorium. That is what the current Economy Minister called for. She went into the Department after her predecessor, Conor Murphy, had already explored whether one was possible, saw that it was not and initiated a…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I am slightly at a loss as to how to cover a few of the points that have been raised in the debate. It would obviously be helpful if the Minister for the Economy were here to respond, because we have just heard that she did not formally approve those mineral licences. Rather,…
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion on behalf of Minister Archibald. The legal framework for mineral prospecting licences is contained in the Mineral Development Act 1969. It is important to note and to be clear that the Act does not cover precious…
No bother. Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I support the motion. It is really disappointing that, in the past number of weeks, the Department has authorised seven mineral licences to move this forward. I have to point out that, last week, we saw Sinn Féin voting with the DUP and TUV — it looks as though it…
I welcome this important motion. The decision to grant seven mineral licences despite overwhelming public opposition flies in the face of reason, logic and science. Friends of the Earth and Save Our Sperrins — I welcome Fidelma, Cormac and others who are in the Public Gallery — have highlighted multiple worrying…
We all want to see progress across society with the building of new homes, growing the economy and providing well-paid jobs in areas often overlooked, but the motion before us may risk just that. The motion calls for a review of the current framework, but the Department is already reviewing the framework to update it.…
I want to make a few brief comments in support of the motion today. Alongside some of my Alliance colleagues, I am deeply concerned about the recent approval of seven new mineral prospecting licences in Northern Ireland. As we strive to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, we cannot…
The following are not my words; they are the words of the then Chair of the Economy Committee and current Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald: "There should be a moratorium on the granting of any new prospecting licences for precious minerals or renewal of existing licences until the regulatory framework…
I rise on behalf of Sinn Féin to speak to the motion. In doing so, I hope to bring some clarity to the debate. The process of issuing mineral licences is archaic, convoluted and complex, so much so that it appears that the Opposition do not understand how it works. So, let me enlighten you all. As it stands, there is…
I beg to move I rise to express deep concern and disappointment about the Economy Minister's decision to approve seven new mineral prospecting licences across Counties Tyrone, Armagh and Fermanagh, effectively opening the door to full-scale mining in some of the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive parts of…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank everybody for their contributions to the debate. I hope that they go to show that not every Opposition debate has to turn into a slinging match and that, while Members have disagreements, there is an opportunity for us all to galvanise around a subject, have the…
I thank the Minister for giving way. An exercise is going on at the minute on five-year business planning. Is his Department specifically looking at the potential for a five-year arts strategy as part of that five-year business plan? If not, might that be something the Minister will take away with him?
Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Member for Foyle Sinéad McLaughlin for bringing the debate to the Chamber today. I agree with nearly everything that she said, and, indeed, I agree with many of the comments made by Members around the Chamber. However, as she would probably expect, I…
I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member know that we have a real, live Oscar winner in the building today? James Martin, Mencap ambassador and the first person with Down's syndrome to win an Oscar, is here today. He is a living testament to what can be achieved through the arts. I firmly agree with Andy…
Take it as read that we all care about the arts. Take it as read that the arts mean a lot to us. Take it as read that we all care about communities of all backgrounds being able to access culture in our constituencies. In my constituency, obviously, I have particular landmark cultural institutions, such as the Lyric…