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 am not sure whether I can choose which question to answer, but I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. First, from a standing start, we were keen for the legislative programme to have ambition. When we came in just a year ago, Ministers were required to go into their Departments and assess what was…
Deputy First Minister, an ordinary, reasonable person out there who looked at a target for 2024 that is just about half met in 2025 would think that that is pathetic. The Executive promised a modest list of Bills that they are not even halfway through. When will the 2024 legislative programme be complete? Furthermore,…
Since our statement last May on the initial legislative programme for the 2024-25 Assembly session, seven Bills have been introduced, with the introduction of a school uniforms Bill expected shortly. We recognise that there has been some slippage. However, that reflects the complexities involved in turning policy into…
I thank the Member for his important question. I spoke to many families who were very much in that situation. It was not just a single issue of having no electricity but two, three or more issues, in that multiple key aspects were down from their mobile phone signal to internet and broadband to water. We simply must…
Minister, we had a sample of climate change recently with storm Éowyn. How or in what way are the Executive Office or, indeed, the Executive collaborating with utilities such as NIE, NI Water and others, especially the likes of the providers of fibre networks? We saw at one fell swoop how virtually the entire region,…
I thank the Member for his question. As outlined before in this place, our farmers do an incredible job. They are such an essential part of our economy in Northern Ireland. They are essential to the supply of nutritious, good, locally produced food. They need our support; they do not need additional burdens placed on…
I am sure that the deputy First Minister will agree that the measures to address climate change must be balanced and affordable, particularly in regard to our agrisector. How are balance and affordability being ensured?
I thank the Member for his question. Collaboration is always to the benefit of anything that we are trying to do. It is not just about collaboration across Departments and agencies here but about collaboration across the UK and, indeed, these isles. I am pleased to say that those issues have been discussed at a number…
I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer. Deputy First Minister, do you believe that there is adequate collaboration amongst Departments to tackle climate change effectively?
As an Executive, we are making progress in relation to climate change adaptation measures. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs recently published a report on our most recent adaptation programme that showed that, of over 130 individual actions contained in the programme, significant progress…
I thank the Member for his question. The Executive Office — the office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister — is different from other Departments in that we have to agree on an answer to go out. Sometimes that is easier than at other times, but we endeavour to turn answers around as quickly as possible. It…
Deputy First Minister, on 12 September last year, I tabled a priority question for written answer asking how much your Department spent on your last trip to Washington. You still have not answered. When did your officials provide you with a draft answer to that question? More importantly, why does your Department so…
Many key areas of the international relations strategy are not devolved, but we have engagements to attract inward investment, in which we have had some success, and to build relationships and networks in the US and beyond. As indicated, we should continue to endeavour to do that. It was right and proper that revision…
Will the Minister please outline when the international relations strategy will be updated to take account of the change of Administration in the US, which, in recent weeks, has been aggressive towards its neighbours and others?
With every change of Administration, there is a change of tone, direction and views. There is no doubt that we will see that in the new presidential term. We will always do everything that we can to fight and push for the best deal for Northern Ireland. We have had many contributions to Northern Ireland from those…
Does the deputy First Minister share my concern about the potential loss of funding to the International Fund for Ireland, which is in doubt as part of a review of overseas funding directed by the new US Administration?
I thank the Member for his supplementary question. We should always endeavour to build those positive relationships. There is an opportunity because, as outlined, there are Scots-Irish and Ulster-Scots links, particularly through the vice president, who has spoken about those connections before. There is an…
I know that the deputy First Minister has been involved for many years in engagement with the US on Northern Ireland's behalf. Given the change in Administration, does she agree that engagement in DC, in particular, is crucial to build those relations? The Finance Minister outlined just last week Northern Ireland's £1…
The St Patrick's Day period offers an opportunity to deepen our connections with the US. This year, there are around a dozen events being organised. Currently, however, no invitations have been issued from the White House to Ministers. Once we have confirmation of the full range of events in Washington DC, the First…
I thank the Member for his question. I am not aware that it was discussed. If I am incorrect, I will certainly write to the Member. I understand that the financial issues pertaining to that body are to do with some pension contributions or other aspects. Those issues are entirely separate from the funding that we…
The deputy First Minister will be aware of the news that broke over the past week or so about the Irish language group's concerns about losing funding . My understanding is that, at the North/South Ministerial Council last year, a new framework was discussed for funded bodies such as Foras na Gaeilge and others. Will…
I thank the Member for her question, but I do not agree at all that there has been a total failure. In fact, there has been significant investment in the Irish language and, indeed, in Ulster Scots over not just the past number of years but the past 18 years, from restoration back in 2007. That has led to a…
Does the deputy First Minister agree that there has been a total failure on the part of the Executive to fund Foras na Gaeilge? Will she please update the House on the last time that she and the First Minister spoke about the Irish Language Commissioner post?
I thank the Member for his question. I understand that the appointments will be based on the legislation on which the Committee was already consulted. Indeed, that legislation is now in place, so the appointments will be fully in line with the statutory responsibilities in that legislation and will not require…