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I thank the Member for that question. The cross-cutting commitment to peace will make sure that everyone feels the benefit of a growing economy, an improved environment and a fairer society. Equality of opportunity and good relations are, obviously, central to that goal, and they support the immediate priority of…
The groups that are delivering under the central good relations fund and the Community Relations Council core funding programme undertake vital work in our communities, bringing people together, promoting good relations and contributing to the Programme for Government’s cross-cutting commitment to peace. For 2025-26,…
I thank the Member for her question. That is under active consideration. Over the past number of months, we have been working with departmental officials and the SIB to finalise some elements of the strategy. Of course, much of the capital that we have available is already committed to existing projects. As I said in…
I thank the Member for his question. The most important thing in all of this is that the assessment is of whether a commission would make a positive difference. In that context, it is notable that the National Infrastructure Commission in England has been rolled into another organisation. The UK Government tried that…
I thank the deputy First Minister for her response. The Department for Infrastructure was allocated the largest capital budget in the history of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Does she agree with my colleagues and me that the commission is needed and that the paper needs to be published urgently, given that the…
A draft paper was produced by the interdepartmental working group in early 2022. It set out an initial assessment of options for consideration and was a precursor to more detailed analysis and the development of a business case. The working group was then stood down. TEO officials are reviewing that assessment…
I thank the Member for his important question. Of course, if government is making those types of interventions, we want to see progress in the areas that have been targeted. We do not want to have to keep returning to the same areas time and time again and putting even more investment in, if, indeed, there is no…
Last Wednesday, civil servants giving evidence to the Executive Office Committee were unable to answer the basic question that asked at what point a community in transition becomes transitioned. We know that phase 3 of the fund will concentrate on the same eight areas as phases 1 and 2. At what point, Minister, will…
I thank the Member for his important question. First, it is about showing political leadership. It is also about standing, politically, shoulder to shoulder on these issues to make it very clear that, no matter what political party we are from and what position our party takes on the constitutional question or on the…
Given that the police are investigating the delivery of intimidating, paramilitary-branded letters to residents in Lisburn, how can the Executive's efforts to tackle paramilitarism be improved? Clearly, there is much still to do.
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.