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 beg to move Today's Final Stage debate concludes the financial legislative process for this Budget Bill in the Assembly. The Bill provides the legislative authority for the final expenditure plans of Departments and other bodies as set out in the spring Supplementary Estimates 2024-25, which were laid in the…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. In the first instance, I urge the Minister not to make assumptions about what he might do based on the origin of today's motion or last week's Adjournment topic. I do not do solo runs, and I do not need to be managed. He can take that as an indication of the strength of…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members opposite for tabling the motion. I, of course, support our constructive amendment, and I am thankful that Members around the House agree with it. Trying to be prudent with finances not only because of a moral imperative around the good use of public moneys but because…
I thank those who tabled the motion and welcome the opportunity to respond. At last week's debate, I forewarned the Assembly that there might be some element of repetition, which Members should expect in my response this week. Ms Sheerin got in ahead of her colleagues. I do not know whether that is leadership in…
It is fair to say that we are having a wee bit of a déjà vu moment after the Adjournment debate last week, but that debate was welcome, and it was helpful to hear from the Minister in advance of today's debate and to learn about the EA work that is already under way. We welcome the motion and will support it along…
I will speak in favour in the motion. My comments are being made on behalf of the schools and school leaders who are extremely frustrated about the procurement situation. Schools across the North continue to face a challenging situation in which budgets are under huge pressure, driven by over a decade of British…
I thank the party to my left for tabling this important motion. We support it and the DUP amendment. I fear that some of my comments may repeat what other Members have said, but I add my voice to those from across the Chamber to demand immediate and meaningful change in the way that schools procure essential goods and…
I thank the Members opposite for tabling the motion and the DUP for the amendment. We will support both. I declare an interest, as did the Member who spoke previously, as the governor of a local primary school in my constituency. To deliver excellence in education, it is imperative that our schools be equipped with…
I support the motion and confirm that we have no issue with supporting the DUP amendment. I suspect that the debate will consist largely of Members agreeing on all of the substantive issues that we are discussing. Before I begin any detailed remarks, I record my interest as a governor at Killinchy Primary School. Like…
Perhaps we will all be singing off the same school hymn sheet this afternoon. I thank the Members opposite for bringing the motion to the House for debate. I will address some aspects of the motion. I will then move on to speak to our amendment. I hope, however, that, in broad terms, all Members can support the…
I beg to move Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Procurement regulations exist for a good reason: to ensure that there is transparency, fairness and, of course, value for money. However, as, I am sure, we will hear throughout today's debate, the current rules can be overly restrictive, creating unnecessary…
Yes. I get excited about that, and I am conscious that we are coming towards 2.45 pm. There is real potential in that, but we have to make sure that there are proper regulations associated with it. Officials are engaging intensively with the Department for the Economy on that. That has real potential to allow us to…
I thank the Minister for his short answer, and this is equally short. There is a role for methane in the gas supply: has the Minister done any work on that?
That largely sits within the Department for the Economy, but we have a role to play in marine licensing. We have been doing some work there on the fees so that we have full cost recovery to ensure that there is resourcing around that. We have a potential role to play in the Forest Service estate, and we will progress…
An established process is in place for declaring interests. They are kept on a register, and it is important that that occurs. If the Member has a concern that guidance has not been followed, I am happy to consider correspondence in relation to that. I am proud of the work that my officials do. I have confidence in…
I will look at that, Minister, and I certainly will send through any matters of concern. If, for example, when discussing issues of farming or agriculture, senior officials in your Department had a financial interest, directly or through family members, in those areas, would they have to declare those at every meeting…
That is set out in Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) HR policy. If the Member has concerns, I am happy for him to write to me, and I can consider them. However, that is the established process in all Departments.
Thank you, David. On taking up office as Minister, I inherited a number of significant challenges, ammonia being one of them. The recent Office for Environmental Protection report sets out clearly the issues, challenges and legal requirements. I encourage everyone to read it. Being conscious of the significance of the…
I thank the Minister for a really detailed response. With regard to the consultations, will you give an update on how stakeholder engagement is happening on the issue?
Thank you, David, for your question. Whilst it is not something that we can see, for example, in relation to water quality, ammonia is a key issue. Action on ammonia is required to support local farm businesses whilst protecting our environment and meeting our legislative requirements. We must put Northern Ireland…
I will be delighted to visit Mount Stewart with you and to engage with the National Trust on the impact of the storm. As has been reported to the general public, approximately 10,000 trees were lost in Mount Stewart as a result of the storm. That is a concern for so many people in the Strangford constituency and…
I thank the Minister for his answer. You mentioned Mount Stewart which, as you know, is in the Strangford constituency. Have you any more detail on the impact on Mount Stewart, and would you be willing to visit it with me to see how the National Trust is responding to that damage?
Thank you for your question, Kellie. That issue has been raised often in recent weeks. Many of my Department's forests suffered significant damage as a result of the storm, and its impacts were widespread across the estate. The forests that have been particularly affected include Drum Manor, Gosford, Tardree, Mount…