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MLA Culture Wars

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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.

107,469 records match, page 239 of 4299.

  1. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I thank the Member for giving way. As I said, I have leant a lot in the debate so far. Now, I am really learning. I cannot think how to phrase the question: is there a statutory definition of a "fairy tree"? That is an honest question.

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  2. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I speak in favour of the Bill's Second Stage. It seeks to strengthen protections for trees in the North. The Bill's three main facets aim to bolster the protections offered by tree preservation orders, create a heritage tree designation to protect old and significant trees and legally protect ancient woodland. I…

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  3. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I am not aware of the map that you refer to, but I referred to ancient woodland in my speech as "fragments". We have fragments of it left. I think that it is 0·04%, and it is around 2% or 3% in England. I am happy to look at the map that you refer to regarding ancient woodland, but there is so little of it left.

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  5. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I thank the Member for taking an intervention. He mentioned the AERA Minister. I had a look at DAERA's natural environment map viewer — this will perhaps concern the Bill sponsor — and would Mr McMurray be surprised if I told him that it contains no ancient woodland? Would he like to have seen ancient woodland on that…

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  6. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I thank the Bill sponsor. I will stick to the generalities of the Bill, and I will not delve into any Abba quotations. A long time ago, the island of Ireland was covered in trees; in fact, it was said that a squirrel could walk the length and breadth of Ireland without setting foot on the ground. Unfortunately, today,…

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  7. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    The issue is very close to the heart of the Bill sponsor, and I congratulate him on securing passage for his Member's Bill. My party colleagues and I will always support efforts to protect our heritage across Northern Ireland, be that our built heritage or our natural heritage. Our ancient trees and woodlands are a…

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  8. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I thank the Bill sponsor for that. That is really useful information. It is very useful to have those figures. There is a job of work to do. Most Members of the House will agree on the principles of the Bill. It is hard not to do so. It would be hard for any party here to say, "This could not pass Second Stage and…

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  9. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    OK, because we initially kicked around the term "heritage tree" and ultimately removed it. I am relieved to hear that. I am sure that Madam Principal Deputy Speaker would have clarified that for me using her excellent research skills. On your point about what would happen if a tree on a farmer's land suddenly got a…

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  11. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    — while I am on my feet. I should thank the Bill sponsor for meeting me before the summer recess to chat about the Bill. I really appreciated having that time, and it was useful. I will now tie off the planning system aspect. I am clear — the Chair of the Infrastructure Committee could not have outlined this better —…

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  13. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I thank the Member for his point. It is clear that he has thought about and forensically engaged with the Bill. I do not foresee that happening. I view the Bill as giving councils clarity. A number of points that have come up today, such as about the term "causes or permits", are about giving councils clarity and…

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  14. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I thank the Bill sponsor. I will have a look for it. I just could not find it before now. I will cover a few bits and pieces that have not been touched on. I take the Bill sponsor to clause 5, which provides for a council to inspect replacement trees. We have talked about that in general terms. I find the clause to be…

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  15. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. That is exactly what I was talking about. My point, which may have been badly drafted in my question, was that I could not find that consultation anywhere online. That might be an oversight, or it might be that I just could not find it, but that is what I was…

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  16. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I did a public consultation in, I believe, the summer of 2024. Apologies if I misspeak; it feels so long ago. From memory, I think that it was launched in December, and the public were widely engaged. I think that we had around 800 responses. I had to chase the Construction Employers Federation a little because I was…

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  19. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    We have covered quite a bit. I am sure that the Bill sponsor will be thankful that I have put lots of lines through most of what I was going to talk about, because my colleagues have already covered a lot of it. I see the Member opposite agreeing with the sponsor. We have consensus across the House, which is unusual.…

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  20. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I thank the Member for giving way and for his detailed memory on what happened at Tullynagardy. I think that I was one of a handful of people watching that live that night. Resource has come up today as a potential issue. Does the Member agree that a lot of time and resource was wasted by having to go to the PAC on…

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  21. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I will speak in support of the Tree Protection Bill. I pay tribute to my colleague and friend Peter McReynolds for bringing it forward. It is positive to see a scenario in which we do not just articulate a problem — that problem being that we need more trees and to better protect the trees that we have — but have…

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  22. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I absolutely agree. That lack of greater clarity risks delay. The interpretation could be inconsistent, and it could be open to legal challenge. It is really important that that be appropriately defined. That brings me on nicely to clause 11 and the principal definitions therein. My colleague talked about the Woodland…

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  23. Debate contribution: Tree Protection Bill: Second Stage

    I thank the Member for giving way. I also thank the Bill sponsor for being so open. He highlighted a point about drafting that has raised a question in my head, which means that I can put another big line through part of my speech. He mentioned the drafting and the definitions. I accept his explanation about aliens…

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