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.
The Sinn Féin First Minister stated earlier this year that the armed forces covenant was a matter for the UK Government. She said: "It is their policy, and it is for them to protect their serving forces." — [Official Report (Hansard), 16 February 2026, p27, col 2]. I point out the simple irony that British forces not…
Thank you, Minister. I also thank our veterans. Will the Minister confirm what resources he has allocated and what he is considering allocating in the future to the outreach programme? Is the NI Veterans Commissioner contributing to the cost? I am aware of the work that the Minister has done with Connect Through…
Minister, you can be sure that you have one friend in Mid Ulster. I appreciate that you do not have many others, but you have one friend here. You talked about collaboration in your statement. What level of collaboration was there and with whom, and what plans are there for future collaboration?
I too welcome the Veterans Commissioner here today and declare an interest as a serving member of the Army Reserve. I pay tribute to the 40,000-plus service personnel and veterans here and agree with the Minister's statement. I am sure that he will agree with me about the great work that our charities and voluntary…
Thank you, Minister, for your statement. You stated that the staff who received training received a high level of security clearance. Did any staff not clear the barrier of that security clearance? Are there any members of staff in your Department about whom you have a security concern?
I thank the Minister for his continued commitment to our veterans community and those who have sacrificed and served for the freedoms that we have today. I declare that I am the daughter of a proud member of the Ulster Defence Regiment who served to fight the evils that came to Northern Ireland. Minister, the Veterans…
As Minister for fairness, equality and non-discrimination and being good to everybody and treating them in the same way, will you support my colleague Colm Gildernew's Housing (Amendment) Bill on the basis that it discriminates against no one and would give everyone equal access to protection and support when they are…
Minister, I welcome your comments about how veterans feel that they have to evaluate their personal security when making contact with the various benefits processes. I get that, because, only last week, I worked with a veteran who had redacted a lot of the information that he had sent through. I appreciate your…
Minister, you say that you are demonstrating your commitment to those from what you refer to as the "armed forces community": why are you not as committed to people who live in poverty, those with an LGBT community background and those from all backgrounds who continue to be failed by the fact that you have not…
I declare an interest in the matter. Minister, to outline why this has come about, will you confirm the barriers that were identified by veterans when they tried to access services that were delivered by or funded through the Department for Communities?
I am incredulous at the Infrastructure Minister's providing no support to veterans, especially when it comes to public transport. Do you agree that Ministers need to put their prejudice aside, recognise the importance of the motion that was agreed in the House and support people living in our communities across…
I, too, welcome the Veterans Commissioner to the Gallery today and thank him for the work that he and his office are doing with the veterans community. It is much appreciated. Minister, I welcome your statement, particularly in reference to the motion that was passed in the House on the need to support veterans.…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. The Minister said that 48 members of staff have received veteran-specific training. Will the Minister outline how many members of DFC staff have received bespoke disability and inclusion training in this mandate?
Minister, the most important questions for members of the armed forces community are around confidentiality and security. Will the Minister further advise whether people who are involved in dealing with members of the armed forces and the armed forces family have been security vetted in an appropriate way by the…
I declare an interest as an armed forces veteran of 32 years. I also welcome the Veterans Commissioner to the Gallery and thank him very much indeed for the hard work that he has done.
I thank the Minister for his statement. I ask him to give us a wee bit more detail about the training that he talked about. What makes it veteran-specific, and what is included? It would also be really useful to understand how much it has cost per head for the 48 recipients of the training so far and how jobs and…
I thank the Minister for his continued commitment, and that of his Department, to our veterans in Northern Ireland. On the back of his very welcome statement, I ask why the Armed Forces Bill has not gone to the Executive in order to allow a legislative consent motion (LCM) to be brought to the House.
Thanks to the Minister for the statement. The Minister says that veterans should not be disadvantaged by receiving compensation or recognition payments, and I agree; nobody should be. Will he explain why a worker on low income who receives an overdue backdated pay rise or a recognition payment is not only not…
Today, I wish to set out the range of actions that my Department is taking to support veterans and their families. I am committed to ensuring that veterans and the wider armed forces community receive the right support, delivered in the right way, that will best meet their needs. As Minister for Communities, I have…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I appreciate your guidance on that. My point was that it is real water and not a prop or gimmick. I do not know whether Mr Buckley would prefer the water to spill on the carpet and get close to him. Does he not know that it is toxic and dangerous? I wanted to make sure that it did not…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. During Mr Carroll's contribution, you ruled that it was not proper for him to have props in the Chamber, and that is right according to the Members' code of conduct. However, is it in order for the Member, after making his point — we are all concerned about Lough Neagh, particularly…
Yesterday morning, I spoke here about the escalating cost of fuel, and I have been inundated ever since by people giving me real-life examples of how it is hurting them. Hard-pressed working families are struggling in every corner of Northern Ireland to fuel their cars and heat their homes as the nip of autumn appears…
This Saturday, as part of the Save Lough Neagh campaign, the March for Clean Water will be at Stormont. We will see fishermen, fisherwomen, farmers, swimmers, trade unionists and people from every community who have a stake in the future of the lough and the future of our planet. I wish them well, and I hope that…
Is léir dúinn gur beag muinín atá ag na daoine as an Aire Pobal i dtaca le cuid mhór ceisteanna. Tá sin ríshoiléir ó bheith ag amharc ar a bhfuil déanta aige don Ghaeilge. Thug Conradh na Gaeilge an tríú hathbhreithniú breithiúnach i gcoinne an Choiste Feidhmiúcháin le linn an tsamhraidh. Is é an tuairim a thug an…