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 thank the Member for his question. I have said this before in this place, and I will say it again: there was never any justification for paramilitary organisations or for the criminal behaviour and the thuggery that we saw in the past and, sadly, see too much of in the present. That criminality should stop. That…
Deputy First Minister, given the urgency for communities that are in transition to be free from the corrosive and difficult circumstances that they find themselves in, under the jackboot of paramilitaries and drug-dealing gangs, can you set a timeline for communities to be truly transitioned and free from such…
I thank the Member for that important question. We measure that in a number of ways. I highlighted some of the sentiment surveys that we do with those who partake in the programmes initially and those who have completed particular projects. It is positive to see that participants in those programmes, particularly…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an leas-Chéad-Aire as a freagra. Will the deputy First Minister give an assessment of the impact that the programme has had on tackling paramilitarism, criminality and organised crime, please?
Communities in Transition is part of the Executive programme on paramilitarism and organised crime. Since 2019, the programme has delivered over £26 million of support across eight areas. Over the past year, many thousands of people have engaged with CIT programmes, including counselling, social action projects,…
I thank the Member for his important question. It is estimated that £1 million will be the initial cost. That is the basic cost of a very basic structure compared with some other commissioner offices. As indicated, a number of UK-wide bodies already work in the area, including the Climate Change Committee, from which…
Picking up on the theme of the previous question, the projected cost is £1 million per annum. Has it been confirmed that that is the budget that will be committed to the office?
I thank the Member for his important question. In light of the Chancellor's spending statement last week, everyone around the Chamber will be aware of the difficulties and financial challenges that we face due to the huge amount of work that we need to do to invest in our public services and the limited funds that we…
I thank the Member for her question. As the Member is likely to be aware, we need to take a number of key steps, particularly if the appointment process is carried out in line with the code of practice. The process has a formal nature, and we will follow all its steps. We will endeavour to get the advertisement out as…
As I said, we will make the appointment in line with the code of practice for ministerial public appointments. The code has not been formally added to the appointment process for the role, but, as the Member will know, we can, of course, make such an appointment in line with the code, which is our intention.
I thank the deputy First Minister for her reply. I look forward to seeing those timelines. Will the appointment be regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments?
We have not yet agreed on a timescale for the appointment of the Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner. Members may be aware that the draft Northern Ireland Climate Commissioner Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025, which will give us the power to appoint the Climate Commissioner, are scheduled for debate on Tuesday 8…
That was included in the manifesto on a UK-wide basis, and that is important. Going back to the point that I am making, I have supported the work of the strategic asset management unit because it is there for that exact purpose: making sure that we use land effectively. Why would a public land agency be any different…
I am grateful to the Member for giving way. Is he able to give even just one example of what a public land agency would be able to achieve that the strategic asset management unit that goes live tomorrow will not be able to?
Thanks very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. Having had conversations with members of the press, I know that they might think that that bunker is used for Executive meetings, because they say that there is a lack of information and press conferences after Executive meetings and they are in the dark. Maybe the Executive would…
The Minister has highlighted his pressing on the revitalisation of the Housing Executive, but we have not yet achieved it. Will he expand on the cause of the delay?
Minister, thank you for allowing me in. Is the Minister surprised that, when the Committee for Communities met Northern Ireland Water, it confirmed that housing was not part of its priorities? The only priority is clean water and the provision of it, and NIW has no intention of dealing with housing issues.
I thank the Minister for giving way, and I am sorry that he will not support our motion. Genuinely, we are not too precious about which Department would take it forward, and we have come to him as the Minister responsible for social housing and the Minister who is bringing proposals to the Executive on the disposal of…
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the mover of the motion and all those who have contributed to the debate, and I welcome the opportunity to respond to it. Through the housing supply strategy and the inclusion of housing as a priority in the Programme for Government, I have provided a renewed focus on…
It is right to highlight, as the motion does, the critical need for social and affordable housing across Northern Ireland. It is commendable that the Minister has a target to deliver at least 100,000 new homes by 2039, with 33,000 of those being social homes, as outlined in the housing supply strategy. However, I have…