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.
Thank you, Minister, for your statement. As a member of the Justice Committee, I welcome the investment in the Department of Justice. What is the Minister's assessment of the composition and effectiveness of the interim board, and do you envisage that it will be made permanent before the second round?
First, I welcome today's announcement. It is a positive step forward in delivering transformation. I am keen to try to understand the decision-making process slightly more. As humble Back-Benchers, it would be useful to understand whether it was the public-sector transformation board that made the recommendations on…
This proposal will see over half of the population of Northern Ireland not having access to an MDT model. It means that you, Finance Minister, are presiding over a postcode lottery for access to MDTs. According to the sector, the GP federations that are yet to become MDTs struggle to attract staff, face longer waiting…
I welcome the announcement. I am really glad to see that the proposal for special educational needs has been included. The Minister of Education recently published his SEN reform agenda, which itself is a transformational programme, but the amount that has been allocated today is a fraction of what is needed for that.…
I thank the Minister for his statement. It is welcome to see the transforming planning bid moving forward, because planning is central to our economy and investors are turning away from Northern Ireland due to the delays in our planning system. The Minister mentioned that the £3 million for transforming planning will…
The Minister and I see today's announcement as a positive step, because, as the Minister said, we are allocating £129 million of additional money to our public services to transform them, which is important. In that context, what are the benefits of the new approach to the allocation of transformation funds, and how…
I welcome the funding, but the statement fills me with no confidence about the speed of delivery. A transformation board that is chaired by the head of the Civil Service, Jayne Brady, has taken 10 months to deliver a minuscule amount compared with what Departments deal with yearly. Is it any wonder that our public…
I welcome the Minister's statement. I may be asking him to step back in time, but will he outline how the transforming planning proposal will make a difference to planning?
I thank the Minister for his statement. Will Departments, once feedback is provided, be able to resubmit proposals that were not successful at the stage 2 assessment, given that many of them were a clear example of change in itself and of invest-to-save initiatives, such as the DAERA proposals on bovine TB?
The Minister says in his statement: "Transformation will take time and this is a step on that journey." It is a step that has taken over a year. What we have today is scant detail in words on pages relating nothing but pilot schemes, examination and assessment boards. Funding, we find, is being allocated to the…
I thank the Minister for his remarks. Minister, on page 10 of your statement, you state: "I will formally notify departments of their funding allocations, including conditions of approval, to enable spend to commence in 2024-25." Are the funds to be spent between now and the end of next month, or, in fact, are those…
I thank the Minister for the statement; in particular, I welcome the £61 million for the multidisciplinary teams. It is known that GP practices that have MDTs are less likely to have contract hand-backs. Will the transformation board look at the knock-on effect of that funding, in particular on workforce planning?…
I thank the Minister for the statement; it is much appreciated. It is interesting that Mr O'Toole thinks that transformation is about reducing waiting lists. Reducing waiting lists is what the Minister has said that he will do with the money that he has got to do exactly that. Transformation is about transforming how…
Minister, it is welcome that we have clarity on the public-sector transformation board after more than a year. The purpose of this ring-fenced money, however, which is a one-off, was to make interventions that are genuinely transformational and cost-saving. On reading the allocations, as legitimate and clearly welcome…
First, I apologise to you, Mr Speaker, and to my Assembly colleagues for the administrative error that led to the delay in today's proceedings. The Executive's Programme for Government, 'Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most', has made the reform and transformation of our public services one of our nine key priorities. As…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I concur with the remarks that have just been made. It is only appropriate that we have a half-hour suspension to allow Members to fully read the document. There may be the method of putting it in the Library, but that is not the traditional method. It is emailed to Members or made…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is no attack on the Minister, but, yesterday, an indication was given by the Department of Finance that a statement would be made today. An email to all Members has just landed at 10.58 am with the contents of the statement. The statement relates to a significant amount of public…
I welcome a survey that has been launched by Minister Muir, who has taken the time to seek the opinions and attitudes of farmers, who will be most directly affected by future net zero proposals in agriculture. It is vital that policy is shaped, I am sure that we all agree, by those who work the land to produce our…
I congratulate the Randalstown Ulster Scots Cultural Society on recently receiving the King's Award for voluntary service. The organisation has truly become a beacon of hope and unity, offering a welcoming environment for everyone in the local community. Each week, it hosts an average of 10 diverse programmes that…
I take the opportunity to mark Marie Curie's great daffodil appeal, which happens every March. Marie Curie is a great charity that seeks to raise awareness of needs and barriers in order to support people at the end of their life and their carers, loved ones and families across Northern Ireland. Marie Curie is a…