12,774 of 97,616 records that can be analysed have been assessed so far (13.1%); 84,841 are waiting for analysis and 1 failed and will be retried. Totals and rankings will change as the remaining records are processed, so they do not yet represent the full mandate. How much has been processed
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Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Non-qualifying, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
The Assembly Commission had initially hoped to reach a settlement with the original contractors to repair the roof while avoiding legal proceedings. Unfortunately, the commencement of legal proceedings was unavoidable, and the Assembly Commission is pleased to have reached a full and final settlement in that regard.…
I thank the Member for his comprehensive response. I accept that the fault is certainly not his, but does he agree that the issue has gone on for so long that it has become an embarrassment?
As I highlighted in the original answer and the follow-up, there are two distinct phases. They will encompass all the works that are required to be taken forward.
As I mentioned, phase 1 of the works will be carried out during the summer recess. The remainder of the repairs will commence, following the award of a contract by construction division, in early 2026. The timescales for the remainder of the repairs are in keeping with a project of this scale.
I thank the Member for his answer. Is he confident that the ongoing issues will be resolved once and for all, particularly with regard to the leaking roof, which has been an issue for a number of years? Hopefully, the buckets will not be needed on the third floor, as they have been for many years, to deal with the…
With your permission, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I will group questions 4, 10 and 11. I thank the Members for their questions. The Assembly Commission is pleased to have reached a full and final confidential settlement in relation to the legal proceedings initiated following the previous work project. Following…
I thank the Member for his question. However, is he talking about automated services outside the cleaning contract? Yes? We have no plans to introduce any further automation. Therefore, we have no services outside the current cleaning services and no further plans to do the same.
I thank the Member for the answer. I commend our cleaning staff for the fantastic job that they do, usually with a smile despite the threat that this poses to them. Is the Member aware of any other areas in Parliament Buildings where automation is being explored?
I thank the Member for his questions. He will appreciate that I cannot answer the final hypothetical question. However, the assurances given to the Assembly Commission, some of which happened before my time, were that the change in contracted hours was voluntary or that there could be redeployment within the service.…
I thank the Member for the answer. The Member will know that concerns have been raised about general job losses with this form of cleaning. What guarantees have been sought by the Commission to ensure that Aramark does not cut jobs? Cleaners in the Building have lost hours. If further hours are cut in the future, will…
With your permission, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I will group questions 3 and 8. I thank the Members for their questions. The Commission requires its support services contractor to provide comprehensive cleaning services in Parliament Buildings that ensure that the accommodation is maintained to an excellent…
I welcome the Member's question. As I said, it is very topical because of what we have seen recently. It is not something that has been specifically considered by the Assembly Commission. Hopefully, the Member will agree that the provision is more robust than what many Members may have believed was available. Members…
I am aware that MPs at Westminster are given a budget to avail themselves of mental health treatment. Will the Assembly Commission explore that option in the future?
The Member raises an important question that is also topical, given what we have seen in the media recently, particularly about the abuse of Members. Indeed, our constituency workers also suffer that. Inspire Workplace Services is an independent organisation that specialises in providing a range of welfare services…
I thank the Member for his answer. Does the Member agree that, at times, not only politicians but their staff are under pressure and stress? How can those staff access mental health support?
I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission recognises the importance of having a strong framework to support a healthy and resilient workforce. To support the delivery of quality services to staff, we have a corporate health and well-being framework. That framework seeks to achieve positive physical,…
There are no plans to extend the provision of free sanitary products in Parliament Buildings. While the current provision is focused on locations that can be accessed by the public, the facilities are accessible to all Building users.
I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission assessed the feasibility of the free provision of sanitary products on a pilot basis in February 2020. From March 2020, a range of free sanitary products were made available in facilities that are accessible to the public and all Building users. To date,…
That has not come to me, because it will go to the Finance Minister. The research is important for providing an evidence base to support potential Executive interventions and on which to make the case to the British Treasury that we have special circumstances here that need to be taken into account. I am looking…
I take the Member's point. It is important that we work in partnership with local councils to develop those plans, and that is why we have taken that particular road. The Member will be aware that, alongside the Department's economic vision and economic plans, Invest NI has published its business plan for the next…
I thank the Minister for her answer. Given the lack of previous investment and the fact that many businesses, such as those in Downpatrick, are recovering from the floods, can the Minister provide an assurance that any rebalancing will be targeted efficiently?
Regional balance is one of the four priorities in my economic plan, the others being good jobs, productivity and decarbonisation. On regional balance specifically, in October last year, Conor Murphy published the subregional economic plan. A key part of it, as I mentioned, is the establishment of the local economic…
It is important that we work alongside the local council, the universities and regional colleges as well as Invest NI. We are doing that through the local economic partnerships. If the Member wants to write to me about specific issues related to Invest NI, I will be happy to correspond further with him.