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 up to each Department to do an audit of the services that it brings in from the community and voluntary sector and of how they might be impacted on by the loss of the funding. However, I emphasise that I am not suggesting that we will lose the funding; we do not have clarity at the moment, ahead of the spending…
What work has been done to identify charities from which the Executive commission services that may suffer an impact from the loss of EU funding? How might that jeopardise commissioned services? What steps are being taken to mitigate that impact?
It is imperative that the British Government properly engage on the matter. The Executive have given them a paper on what, we believe, the way forward should be. That is an agreed position around the Executive table. As I said, I have raised the matter with Treasury, directly with the Minister for Housing and Planning…
Minister, the loss of European funding is probably one of the most extreme demonstrations of the legacy of the Brexit arrangements that were imposed on us. What are the requirements on the British Government to meaningfully engage with the issue with a view to ensuring that the funding pressures that have been created…
I met representatives of the community and voluntary sector a number of weeks ago on that very matter and discussed the challenges that the sector faces. The situation is far from ideal. We require clarity. It seems as though that is a standard answer to every question, but I do not expect any clarity from any…
Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Will you give us an assessment of the impact of the transitional arrangement on the community and voluntary sector? Have you had any engagement with the community and voluntary sector to ascertain how it can overcome the barriers that it will face during the transitional period?
I have written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury directly and jointly with my counterparts in Scotland and Wales about EU replacement funding beyond 2025. The issue has been a central point of discussion in my meetings with the Treasury. I have also written to other British Government Ministers about the matter…
I have had no discussions with the Infrastructure Minister about a new funding model for NI Water, but I am conscious that she has responded to a number of debates and questions about that matter in the Assembly.
DFI's resource budget outcome of £638·2 million for 2025-26 is an increase of £78·7 million — a 14% increase — from its opening 2024-25 resource budget. That allocation should enable the Department to meet its highest priority measures and essential services. The Department's 2025-26 capital outcome is £917 million,…
I am delighted that the Member is taking more of an interest in Southern politics. I suspect that his party is moving beyond its partitionist approach; it is good to see it. If I had a €12 billion surplus — I think that is how much it is — in my Budget, I would expect the Member to stand in the Chamber and call on me…
The capital departmental expenditure limit (CDEL) settlement for the Budget that we are debating today increases capital investment in water infrastructure by just between 1% and 2%, I think. Last week, in Dáil Éireann, the Minister's colleague Eoin Ó Broin moved a motion that Dáil Éireann: "agrees that the Government…
It is for the Department of Infrastructure to determine NI Water's funding within the budget envelope that the Executive agreed for the Department. My intention is that 2025-26 will be the last single-year Executive Budget. The multi-year spending review, which will be announced by the Chancellor in June, will set…
It is not an issue that immediately jumps to mind as one that has been raised with me by officials. It is a matter that I will take under further consideration, and I have no doubt that the Member will raise it in the Committee's considerations. As I said in response to the previous question, we do not want to place…
As part of their work on the Bill, have the Minister's officials looked at addressing the anomaly that is affecting some of my constituents who are unmarried same-sex couples who live in the North but went through IVF treatment in the South. My understanding is that, as things stand, the non-birth mother will not be…
I am keen to see the baby loss certificate scheme progress urgently to give bereaved families formal recognition of their loss. I want all parents and families who have suffered the devastating loss of a baby to feel that their grief is recognised. The Deaths, Still-Births and Baby Loss Bill, which will provide a…
There has been no direct comment from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, though I am aware that Rachel Reeves has commented on that over a period of time. It will be interesting to see whether the comprehensive spending review will be used to see how we classify debt. Will it help alleviate some of the pressures on…
Minister, my question is about when you are dealing with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Is there any indication that we will relook at how debt is classified and whether there will be changes in how we look at the reinvestment and reform initiative (RRI) and our ability to tap into that, particularly for things…
There is an ever-growing list of issues that we are raising with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and I hope that the spending review will resolve some of them. I expect that it will not resolve others, so those discussions will have to continue. However, as I have noted, those issues include our funding at need…
The Member will be aware that my predecessor commissioned Professor Gerry Holtham to carry out work to identify the true need of spend in this region. That work has been completed, and I can confirm to the House that I have issued that report to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and copied in the Secretary of State.…