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Sinn Féin fully supports the need for a relationships and sexuality education curriculum that is age-appropriate, fact-based and delivered consistently across all schools. If we are serious about issues such as child safeguarding, supporting young people to have happy and healthy relationships, consent and tacking…
I thank the proposer of the motion. I think that we all welcome any opportunity to talk about tackling violence against women and girls, and RSE is such an important part of that. I start by paying tribute to my colleague Sorcha Eastwood MP, who made such a personal and moving speech in the House of Commons earlier…
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker, for the second time. With constrained speaking times today, the Chair of the Education Committee and other colleagues from the Committee may wonder whether I will get past the preamble in the debate. In the context of the debate, although the term "RSE" often invokes passionate…
I beg to move Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members from across the House who have given us their attention and enthusiasm throughout the previous debates. I thank them for being here and contributing. I rise to address a critical issue, which is how we educate our young people on establishing and…
Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle. A world in which anyone can impersonate you, steal your image or have you do and say outrageous things would have seemed closer to some sort of sci-fi horror film than to reality just a few years ago. When combined with entrenched misogyny, that technology becomes…
Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I will try to speak fast. I wish that I had more time. I echo my colleague Connie's personal thanks to Cara Hunter. We know only too well the abuse that comes when a woman speaks out about her personal experience, as my colleague Sorcha Eastwood is unfortunately experiencing…
I do not think there will be anything that we will be able to include in the upcoming Budget. There are significant proposals in there that come at significant cost. I look forward to sharing the information with Executive colleagues and, hopefully, Committee members shortly, but we need to be aware of the significant…
Thank you very much, Minister. Are there are any other recommendations of the independent welfare review that you are considering for the upcoming Budget?
Obviously, we want to make sure that we are building homes where they are needed. We also need to make sure that we are building homes that are accessible, and it is, obviously, a benefit to be accessible by public transport. I would be reluctant to put additional conditions on where houses can be built. We want to…
I thank the Minister for his response and for saying that he will come back to me on that. What action is he taking to ensure that the 100,000 homes outlined in the housing supply strategy include a planning requirement for them to be connected to town and city centres by public transport, which will reduce reliance…
I will have to come back to the Member on that. I have had much correspondence with the Department of Finance on many areas related to housing, but I do not have the details of when or how often I raised that with the Minister of Finance.
I thank the Member for raising that issue as well. It is absolutely right that we have support for all those who find themselves in need regardless of their gender. That is something that I will, obviously, continue to work on and raise with officials. If there are particular issues or geographical areas that the…
Hear, hear. We have been waiting for that for quite some time, so it is certainly welcome news. You will know that in our constituency of East Antrim, the Cithrah Foundation provides fantastic support for women who are fleeing domestic abuse but we have no safe spaces for males who are fleeing domestic abuse. What has…
The Member is absolutely right to raise that issue. It has been a source of frustration to me, as a representative in her constituency, for many years, so I am happy to tell her that changes to the housing selection scheme are under way, including an exploration of options for the future of intimidation points. The…
To the best of my memory, that is not been brought to my attention. I am aware that the UK Government's policy on the processing of asylum seekers has moved a considerable number of people who were under the care and responsibility of Mears and the Home Office to being the responsibility of the Northern Ireland…
Thank you to the Minister. Does the Housing Executive expect, or is it preparing for, any increase in demand as a consequence of the removal of that payment?
The Member will be aware that the Department for Communities previously had responsibility for the Homes for Ukraine refugee resettlement scheme. That included funding for a community and voluntary sector consortium that provided support to people who arrived under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. From 1 April 2024,…
Yes, of course. I saw that recently at the Ulster Transport Museum, and I encourage others to do the same. I always look forward to seeing how we can promote events and anniversaries, such as the one that the Member mentioned. He rightly highlights West Tyrone and people from there. He may well be aware of John…
Thank you, Minister. Do you agree that the 250th anniversary of the United States is an excellent opportunity for Northern Ireland to showcase our rich historical links? Being parochial, I am thinking of the Ulster American Folk Park in my constituency, which you visited last year. The centenary of the Ferguson system…
The working group continues to develop a programme, working with US partners, to promote events in Northern Ireland and North America leading up to the 250th anniversary commemorations. My officials recently met Library of Congress staff to discuss practical ways to cooperate on links between people, places and…
The Member will be aware of the consultation processes that are in place. I agree with him that hearing and involving the voices of young people is very important. I look forward to doing just that next week with the youth participation group.