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 securing the Adjournment debate. It is focused on West Tyrone, so I will try not to take up too much time or speak about other areas, but I welcome the Member's comments at the start that it is an issue that affects every part of Northern Ireland. I am sure that, at this time of year, every…
I welcome the opportunity to speak about the pressure that is being put on community and voluntary playgroups in my constituency. As has been said, the cap that the Education Authority has placed on providers is squeezing many of them. A lot of community and voluntary playgroups are very much involved in, and, indeed,…
I would like to comment on the same issue. I declare an interest as the chairman, or cathaoirleach , of Naíscoil na Deirge, which offers independent preschool provision. I will not talk about Naíscoil na Deirge, however, because, in fact, it has healthy numbers and is well allocated with the places that we require. I…
I thank my constituency colleague Nicola Brogan for securing this important Adjournment debate. The issue obviously is not unique to West Tyrone — it affects many constituencies across the North — but we are acutely aware of it in our rural constituency. It is also appropriate to record our sincerest appreciation to…
Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I am pleased to have secured an Adjournment debate on behalf of a number of community-based playgroups in West Tyrone. I thank the Minister for attending to respond to the debate this afternoon. I will take the opportunity to discuss a number of issues that are plaguing…
That is the case. There is a series of strategies that urgently need to be progressed. They are interlinked and interdependent. My colleagues were involved in setting up significant co-design processes and getting groups involved. Those groups are now telling us that they feel that they have been cast aside and have…
I appreciate the Member giving way. I have said from the outset that I fully respect the rights of others to engage in different languages, be that Irish or Ulster Scots, and I will continue to do that and to make progress. I remind the Member that I have been in the office for a year. He is throwing considerable…
There will not be further delay. Departments will be asked to reaffirm the members whom they put forward and, importantly, as we want to make progress, confirm that they have the authority on behalf of their Departments to make the necessary decisions.
I listened to what the Member said about dual-language street signs. Does he not acknowledge that, if, in a survey, residents have indicated that they do not want a dual-language street sign, one should not be imposed on them against their majority wishes and against the wishes of unionist representatives? Such signs…
FlaggedIrish language, Ulster-Scots and language policyCriteria met: Identity framing, Cultural grievance politics, Dog-whistle messaging, Controversy escalation.
I thank my colleague for giving way. Does he agree that countries all over the world have multilingual signs but have not collapsed into chaos? Perhaps the Minister should be more focused on delivering for all communities here instead of on some imaginary linguistic bogeyman.
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a ghlac páirt i ndíospóireacht an lae inniu. I especially thank the Members who indicated their support for our motion. As a proud Gael, it brings me great joy to speak on and speak up for our native language in the…
Thank you, Deputy Speaker. The Ulster Unionist Party believes that the Irish and Ulster-Scots languages and cultures should be respected, promoted, funded and cherished. They are as much ours as they are anyone else's. I remember attending a Turas awards event with Linda Ervine a while back and handing out awards to…
I am not sure that I picked up the question correctly. If I did not, given the time, I will write to you. One of the beauties of our strategy is the fact that so many partners came together to devise it, including groups that work with young people. I think that that is what you referred to, Andy. I am sorry: I did…
Yes, I will. The Member may have seen at the weekend that Justine McCarthy wrote in 'The Irish Times': "Misogyny is killing women but it is sexism that facilitates it." That is a real wake-up call. Together, we have to break the cycle of violence and support those women and girls who refuse to be silenced. All of us…
Yes, the Women in Business Awards is a great initiative. It is always such a positive event at which to celebrate all that is great about women in business and to celebrate all the innovators right across the business community. I commend Women in Business itself on the work that it does to support women to ensure…
Dealing with funding levels was one of our day-1 priorities, and every party grouping that is represented in the Chamber certainly signed up to that being the case. The British Government have recognised that we have been underfunded, but we are feeling the detrimental impact of 14 years of Tory austerity, which is…
I have not seen the full detail, but I know that cuts have been announced. We absolutely have to raise that issue with the British Government, and I am sure that the Department for Communities will likewise want to raise issues with them. It is more of the same from the Government in London. They are constantly…
Yes, I am determined, as is the deputy First Minister and our entire Executive, to continue to promote our wares and sell what we have on that international front. We have great people, a happy population, a talented workforce and a young, strong cohort coming out of our universities. We have a very skilled population…
As I said, it was a real pleasure to visit North Carolina with the Chamber of Commerce and for us to have the opportunity to lead that delegation of local business leaders. We had the chance to set out our stall to some of the world's leading businesses. We took the opportunity to showcase the strength of our economy.…