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.
Will the First Minister join me in congratulating and thanking all the volunteers who made the fleadh a success, particularly those from St John Ambulance, which kept well over 100 people out of hospital with its field hospital at Ulster University, its presence beside City Hall and its mobile units?
Like the Member, I engage with many people from across the arts, and they often make the comparison with the support for artists in the South. We do not have that here, which is unfortunate, because we have so many amazing artists. We have a talented base here. We need to find ways to support them, and the summer's…
The First Minister will be aware that people from the arts sector and artists recently came to Parliament Buildings as part of a campaign to save the arts. In their meeting with MLAs, they said that the fleadh's success had come off the back of their many years of hard work that had led up to the event. For example,…
— so let me give you the answer. That is what a new Ireland looks like: a society that is based on inclusion, that is fair across the board, that allows us to celebrate our identity and who we are and that does not allow one to diminish the other. You do not build your own identity by diminishing another, to quote…
I am glad that your request is that I be cloned so that I can be everywhere all the time. Thank you, Phillip. You cannot get to everything at the fleadh. It was a huge success. There was so much that I did not get to go to this year but will go to next year. The fleadh demonstrated the best of us — absolutely; all day…
First Minister, I share in your comments and positivity about the fleadh. I was particularly delighted to welcome the Taoiseach from the Irish Republic to the Belfast Bands Forum event. It was unfortunate, First Minister, that, on that occasion, you were unable to attend but, hopefully, you can do so next year. The…
FlaggedSectarianism, hate crime and community relationsCriteria met: Identity framing, Cultural grievance politics, Dog-whistle messaging, Controversy escalation.
Before I answered the first question, I should have welcomed the Member back from her maternity leave and congratulated her on her baby twins. I do not think that I have had the chance to do that in the Chamber thus far. I agree with the Member. Planning for next year is already well under way. The fact that we…
Gabhaim buíochas leis na Aire as an fhreagra sin. Does she agree that planning for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2027 should begin as soon as possible so that we maximise its potential economic, societal and cultural benefits?
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann really was an incredible success. It brought together people from across these islands and around the world to celebrate our music, our culture and our diversity and created an incredible atmosphere that many will remember for years to come. I was delighted, alongside the deputy First…
Matthew, I can tell you that all four parties of the Executive are deploying every effort to get a Budget: that is our endeavour. Do you know why Scotland is not knocking on the door or why Wales has agreed a Budget? Because they have more money, because they got a fairer settlement. People here deserve exactly the…
First Minister, I have no issue with your going to Cardiff to engage with Scotland and Wales; I commend it in relation to constitutional conversations. However, no First Minister or Finance Minister in Scotland or Wales has ever refused to set a Budget halfway through a financial year — in the age of devolution, that…
As I just said, we have to look at how we do business here; we have to look at how we can improve people's lives; and we have to look at how politics can work better for people. I am absolutely up for reform in the areas where we can do that. That is why we published our reform proposals: we believe that this is the…
First Minister, do you recognise that, in order to maximise our case for securing a fair share and adequate funding, we also need to maximise the efficiency of our spending and that doing so involves the reform and, dare I say it, given the previous interlude, reimagining of the institutions?
There is no irony, actually, but I welcome your interest in the fact that I was in Cardiff with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales. I very much welcome the interest from everybody on your Benches. Is that not great? Welcome to the conversation. Let us talk about what is better for all of us; let us talk about…
There is an irony in what the First Minister has said, because she has been fixated on breaking up the Union instead of focusing on getting the settlement that we need for Northern Ireland. For once, the First Minister should focus on putting Northern Ireland first. Instead, she travelled last week to Cardiff, and…
I absolutely agree with the Member. That is the point that we are making and the negotiation that we are engaged in. Those are the conversations that we are having with the British Government, because we want a fair and sustainable, baselined funding settlement. That is the position of all four Executive parties,…
I thank the First Minister for her answer. Workers, families and businesses pay their taxes and rightly expect quality public services in return. With pressures now exceeding £1 billion and funding below assessed need, does the First Minister agree that the time for short-term Budget fixes is over and that the British…
The Executive are firmly committed to achieving a multi-year budget that is balanced and sustainable. That will help to provide the certainty required. We continue our negotiations with the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in our efforts to…
What is much better is that we recognise that we are not going to agree on the past. None of us in the Chamber will agree on the assessment of the past. We have different narratives and lived experiences, and do you know what? That is also OK. Our job is to heal the wounds of the past and look towards the future. The…