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.
I have made my position clear on the issue. The Executive do not have the financial capability to mitigate the decisions taken at Westminster that have a direct, detrimental impact not just on businesses but on people here. As I said, we already provide a range of supports to businesses, and we are looking at how…
Minister, you commissioned the study on the cost of doing business, but it appears that all that you will do with it is simply send it to the British Government and that the Executive will not do anything. When will you do something to help businesses here, given that 96% of respondents to Retail NI's survey said that…
I thank the Member for his question, which is about something that is reflected to many of us in our conversations with businesses. I met the Infrastructure Minister last week to discuss that issue in particular. She highlighted a range of initiatives that her Department is taking to improve and speed up the planning…
Has the Minister had any discussions with the Minister for Infrastructure on planning reform? The planning system is holding our businesses back, adding to the cost of doing business here and preventing the future development of those businesses and investment in Northern Ireland.
Yes. You are quite right that that is highlighted. I am sure that that issue has been reflected to many of us by businesses in our constituencies, particularly those in border areas that are competing directly with businesses in the South. The Minister of Finance has asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to…
The research highlights the differential hospitality VAT rates in the North and South. Would you support a reduction in the North's VAT rate on hospitality?
I thank the Member for his question and for highlighting that particular issue and the challenges facing businesses here. We all very much recognise those challenges. The Member will know — I have rehearsed this answer on a number of occasions — that the Executive do not have the financial capability to mitigate bad…
I thank the Minister for her answer. For months, the Minister and her colleague the Finance Minister have pointed to the need to have a research evidence base before addressing the concerns of businesses across our country. Now that the research is in place, what urgent actions will the Minister take to mitigate the…
In my previous role as Finance Minister, I commissioned the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre to examine the cost of doing business in the North. That research was published last week. It highlights the range of cost challenges that employers have faced in recent years, including those resulting from the COVID…
I thank the Member for giving way. How does he respond to the fact that, in the call for evidence, 69% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that the board should have regard to salaries paid to Members in other jurisdictions? If the Member was so keen to hear my views, and I thank him for that, I refer him…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank all Members who took part in what was a wide-ranging debate. We covered many issues in the Bill and indeed issues that are far outside the scope of the Bill. It was a useful discussion, and I thank those who contributed, including, first, my vice-chair, Ms Mason, who…
I thank the Member for giving way. I was hoping that Mr Carroll would bring that up in his speech. I was unsure as to the purpose of trade union representation. As a former trade union representative in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, when I lobbied on pay issues, I was representing the members — the…
The Member is being kind in giving way. He talks about limiting the pool. I remind him that there are over 250,000 trade unionists in the North, so that is a lot of people for the Committee and the panel to choose from.
I thank the Member for giving way again. What is the Member's assessment of the fact that, in the call for evidence, 69% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that the board should have regard to the salaries paid by legislatures in other jurisdictions?
Thank you. If former MLAs can sit on the board, how can the Member justify saying that such a board will be independent? If you stepped down as an MLA tomorrow, you could sit on it and set the pay of your colleagues. How is that independent?
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the amendments that have been tabled to the Assembly Members (Remuneration Board) Bill on behalf of the Assembly Commission. I express the thanks of the Assembly Commission to the Chairperson and all members who served…
I thank the Member for giving way. Does that mean that his TDs in the South, just down the road from where I live, are out of touch, given the €115,000 that they accept?