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.
It is incredibly concerning to hear this today, Minister. A wait for cardiac surgery is a very frightening time in a patient's life, and to hear that that has been going on in the service is very concerning. Can you tell us what the impact on the cardiac service will be?
Minister, you said that the report looked at two aspects: safety and teamwork. You kind of answered the question about public assurances regarding safety. On teamwork, what engagement, if any, have you or your Department had with the trade unions since the publication of this damning report?
The Member asked two things, starting with whether I will publish the report and lay it in the Library. I intend to do that; absolutely. The Member also asked how it could possibly have gone on for so long. Let me assure the House that that will be a key question when I meet the chair of the Belfast Trust. It is…
Minister, the report is shocking. There has been a litany of problems and a culture of bullying and poor behaviour. At one stage, an operation was cancelled because of "interpersonal differences in theatre". It reveals that four surgeons were working from home. What really concerns me is the report's conclusion: "The…
In December 2024, the strategic planning and performance group (SPPG) and the Public Health Agency (PHA) commissioned an independent, external expert team to carry out a review of the cardiac surgery service in the Belfast Trust. The review concluded in April of this year. The review team was specifically focusing on…
I do not know the ins and outs of the case, but, obviously, people should be factual when they are making a claim; that is important. It is also very important that the Police Service is as inclusive as the society that it represents. Trust and confidence in policing are also crucial. All those components need to be…
It is not the case that I did not answer; it is the fact that you do not like the answer. Let me repeat it for you: I will await the Equality Commission's advice and guidance. It would be better if everybody in the House were sensitive to this issue as we try to work our way through it on the basis of the Equality…
As I expected, no answer is forthcoming. However, I will ask another question that has been asked on two occasions prior to this, with no answer given. Maybe we will get it today. Does the First Minister now agree that biological men should not be permitted to play women's sports, enter ladies' toilets or be placed in…
Yes, I am more than happy to do so. The junior Minister informs me that, yes, they have actually met. I am more than happy to engage with all representatives of our community here. If we are to make this the most warm, welcoming and inclusive place, we need to engage with their representatives, particularly consuls…
Thank you, First Minister, for your answer. Given the First Minister's answer, will she commit to organising a meeting as soon as is practicably possible with Polish community leaders in Northern Ireland to acknowledge their contribution to Northern Ireland and to explore potential areas for future collaboration?
I cannot recall, off the top of my head, any engagement. I assume that we will have met the ambassador when they came, certainly at a First Minister/deputy First Minister level or at a junior Minister level, as we do with all the ambassadors who represent the population here. I will confirm that in writing.
Again, I am mindful of any sort of legal proceedings or whatever, but I have made my point about solidarity with the individuals — Liam Óg, Sue and Martine — because I think that anybody who goes out to raise their voice — rightly so, in my opinion — and call for an end to the genocide in Palestine is doing a good…
I agree, and I thank the First Minister for her answer. Maybe the problem was that the individuals did not have a letter from Jonathan Powell. First Minister, you said that you met Keir Starmer last week. Did you raise the specific case of Liam Óg with him, and, if not, will you commit to raising that issue and issues…
OK. Thank you. Mindful of that, I first send solidarity to both parties that the Member referred to. Highlighting genocide and the inhumane slaughter of defenceless citizens is not a crime. That is certainly my view, and I send solidarity to all those protesting and calling for an end to the genocide in Palestine.
We are working our way through them. As the junior Minister said, we will introduce the legislation on the Race Relations Order very soon in this political session. We will also move to publish the refugee integration strategy, hopefully, in the next number of days. We are working our way through the international…
I thank the First Minister for that answer. A racial equality strategy, including ethnic equality monitoring, an update to the Race Relations Order 1997 and an international relations strategy and Europe strategy are key to delivering for that community and all others, so can she give us any indication of what…
I want this to be a great place for everybody to live where they can be comfortable and achieve their best. Whatever I can do to help communities, whether it be the Polish community or any other community, please feel free to knock on my door and let me know what we can do or where we are perhaps not doing enough. I…
All Executive colleagues, including our Communities and sports Minister and our Economy Minister, will be interested in it. We demonstrated when we had the Giro that we can host big international events, and that is something that is to be built upon. I would have to look a bit more into what we are chasing right now,…
Thank you, First Minister. That leads me on to my next question. Opportunities that are brought by events such as the Open, the Giro d'Italia and others undoubtedly put us on the map. Are the Executive actively seeking to attract other sporting events?
We are going to host the Open, and what a great opportunity that will be for us. In fact, later today, we are hosting an event with the Claret Jug here in Parliament Buildings, and all MLAs are invited. We are starting to tap into the huge economic potential that that event will have for us through tourism and the…
I am not aware of any particular pieces of work on that, but good relations work through Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) funding is usually done in conjunction with partners, including the PSNI. When it comes to good relations and looking at where things are, not least with some things that we have seen…
I thank the First Minister for her response. First Minister, through your office, have the Executive undertaken any assessment of the impact of reduced policing numbers on good relations in Northern Ireland, particularly in light of sectarianism and hate crime attacks, in order to see what we can do as an Executive to…
As you know, we have made commitments in our Programme for Government in that area. We support the PSNI when it comes to its need for additional numbers. It is also very important that we have an appropriately funded justice system. We also know the significance of neighbourhood policing and how important it is to…