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 Ad Hoc Committee makes a recommendation that the board must have regard to the wider financial circumstances of the North. You would presume that those would be the same financial circumstances that mean that pensioners are sitting freezing in their homes during winter, the circumstances that led to 90,000…
Thank you very much, Principal Deputy Speaker. I do not want to be distracted but, in that vein, I have been quite generous in letting people in. I sense that I am running close to the wire, and your patience seems to be getting tested with some of this, so I will finish my remarks by talking about amendment No 11.…
I thank the Principal Deputy Speaker for raising that issue. When I looked at some of the amendments that were permitted, I thought that the Speaker's Office had been incredibly generous. Is the Member able to point to any clauses in the Bill that would stop an independent body from considering anything that he has…
I thank the Member for giving way. It is important to point out what is realistic in the comparisons that are made. We share this island with the Irish jurisdiction, and people consider this to be one island. You talked about the Good Friday Agreement, Mr Gaston, but you would do well to respect the wishes and views…
I thank the Member for giving way. In the interest of fact, it is important to point out that the House has more legislative authority than the Welsh Parliament does. I put that on the record, because you are missing the point to suit your own agenda. It is also worth pointing out that, while Mr Gaston feels so…
Since the Bill first came before the House and, indeed, before that, I have been clear on the matters on which it touches. Back in December, when I saw the briefing that was prepared to assist the Audit Committee in its scrutiny of the Assembly Commission's budget for 2025-26, I made clear my position on the reason…
FlaggedConstitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereigntyCriteria met: Dog-whistle messaging.
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. My party's position has been clear throughout. We set it out firmly during the Second Stage debate, in which I spoke. We will support the amendments tabled by the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee: amendment Nos 1, 9, 10, 12 and 14. As has been outlined, while those amendments…
I will make a few remarks, having sat on the Ad Hoc Committee, to respond to the amendments. I do not intend to repeat what I said at Second Stage about the general principles of the Bill. Our Committee amendment for the inclusion of the word "Independent" is entirely sensible and provides clarity and confirmation of…
I speak in support of the amendments proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee. When people look at the Assembly, they expect to see fairness, transparency and a commitment to doing what is right. The Bill is an opportunity to prove that trust in public institutions still matters and that we, as MLAs, are prepared to ensure…
On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Last Friday, the Committee on Standards and Privileges published its report on the complaint that was made against me. The Committee found that I had not breached any Assembly standards. All who value free speech and proper scrutiny in the House should welcome that…
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I refer to the report from the National Audit Office, which was published on 7 May and covered in the media here yesterday, regarding Home Office contracts for asylum seekers' accommodation. The headlines were about the costs of providing that accommodation and how they have risen to three times…
I pay tribute to Mr John Allen, who made a massive, lifelong contribution to Northern Ireland athletics. In particular, he was a central figure in the development and growth of the Belfast marathon, serving as a director since the marathon's inception in 1982 and, more recently, as chair of the board for six years,…
I rise as a representative of South Antrim to draw attention to the unsatisfactory state of rural public transport across the constituency. Across Northern Ireland, our rural communities remain severely underserved and neglected by transportation infrastructure. Residents in those areas face significant and, often,…
There is an increasing plague on communities in east Belfast, as there is across the country, I am sure, and that is the illegal use of scrambler bikes. In recent weeks, I have met police officers who cover the east Belfast and Dundonald areas to discuss the subject. It was clear from our discussions that the police…
Déanaimid Seachtain Dhomhanda na Náisiún Aontaithe um Shábháilteacht ar Bhóithre a cheiliúradh an tseachtain seo. Tá gortuithe tráchta ar bhóithre ar cheann de na príomhchúiseanna báis agus míchumais ar fud an domhain: maraítear beagnach 1.2 milliún duine agus gortaítear 50 milliún duine gach bliain i dtaismí bóthair.…
My statement is on a related subject. I pay tribute to the scores of firefighters who tackled a blaze in the Clogher Valley last week. At one point, over 100 firefighters were tasked to the area. The Fire and Rescue Service indicated that the fires were started deliberately, and I wholeheartedly condemn those…