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MLA Culture Wars

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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.

107,471 records match, page 2911 of 4299.

  1. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    • Mr John O'Dowd SF
    • Private Members' Business
    • As a minister

    Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Members who tabled the motion. It is a very important topic, and it has been a useful debate. By way of background information, the current Enterprise service was introduced in 1997, and, for most of this time, the fares offered by NI Railways have generally…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  2. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    I completely agree. I was trying to question whether this is all about fare costs. It is not about public transport; it is about the cost of fares. Where is the money coming from? Maybe the SDLP's idea is to align that to get more money. That is all. I totally agree with what you are saying.

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  4. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    In April 2022, the Irish Government cut public transport fares by 20% across the board in recognition of the cost-of-living crisis, and that included tickets for Enterprise journeys that originated in the South. In the North, Translink fares were frozen between 2019 and 2023, but fares have been hiked again, and more…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  5. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    What an apposite moment to be called: it means that I can respond to some of the comments that the Member for Lagan Valley made about constructive motions from the Opposition. I take profound exception to the suggestion that the SDLP has not put forward serious and constructive proposals; in fact, it is, frankly,…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  9. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    It is hugely positive that a bright and shiny new transport hub has been constructed in Belfast. The cost of that has been huge, but that should not be passed on to commuters. It is totally unreasonable that people travelling from Newry have to pay more than people from across the border who are travelling longer…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  12. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    My daughter is studying in Dublin and quickly learned to get a single ticket down at the start of term and purchase return tickets from there in order to avail herself of the price difference. The differences are much wider than just the cost of the Belfast-Dublin train, however. Linking to the Luas is cheaper, with a…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  13. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    I thank the Member for giving way. Does she agree that the review puts us in Fermanagh at a huge disadvantage? Other projects will have years to get feasibility studies and other things in place, but the review leaves Fermanagh behind again on all that preparatory work.

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  14. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    I thank the Members who tabled the motion and those who tabled the amendment. I am an advocate of rail. It brings many benefits, and the provision of rail will build a better interconnected and interlinked Northern Ireland. That said, however, we need to see rail fares being reduced and more capacity on rail routes.…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  15. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate, which, I think it is fair to say, is on two separate topics. On the one hand, the SDLP motion is about the fare imbalances between the North and South of Ireland, and, on the other hand, the broader DUP amendment is about the electrification of the network, the opening…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  16. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Fares

    On behalf of Sinn Féin, I welcome the motion. We all know the importance of public transport in each of our constituencies and right across the island. Improved connectivity, a boosted economy and further decarbonisation are all positive outworkings of an improved all-island transport infrastructure. As a small…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  17. Debate contribution: Education Service: Remit

    I thank the Member for his supplementary question. As I understand, there are no plans currently for any North/South work on the education programmes, but I am sure that we can write back to the Member if there is anything on the agenda that might be able to be approved by the Commission.

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  18. Debate contribution: Education Service: Remit

    Gabhaim buíochas le mo chara. First, I want to pay tribute to the Education Service staff who do that with such professionalism and are so engaged with Members and their staff as well as with the pupils and teachers. It is really beneficial. Are further, more-strategic, cross-border activities with schools anticipated?

    Not analysed

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  19. Debate contribution: Education Service: Remit

    I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission's Education Service has been very successful in encouraging participation by young people in democracy education. Since September 2023, 7,000 pupils have visited Parliament Buildings and a further 1,500 joined one of our online sessions. Those pupils came…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  20. Debate contribution: Parliament Buildings: Accessibility

    As I said to the Member, the Commission is always open to receiving feedback from Members, staff and other interested parties and stakeholders. The Commission regularly engages with a wide cohort of people on accessibility measures. If Members right across the House, staff who may be listening or charities are aware…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  21. Debate contribution: Parliament Buildings: Accessibility

    I thank the Member for his response. I note that much of the change that has happened is as a result of his being elected, which highlighted how the Building had to be updated. In light of the work being done, what engagement is the Commission having with staff working in the Building who have additional accessibility…

    Not analysed

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  22. Debate contribution: Parliament Buildings: Accessibility

    I thank the Member for her question. Colleagues will know that that is an area in which I have had significant interest since becoming a Member. The Member may be aware that, over the years, the Assembly Commission has introduced a number of physical alterations to the Building and undertaken a number of initiatives…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  23. Debate contribution: Parliament Buildings: Roof Repair

    I thank the Member for his supplementary question. Estimated costs of £2·4 million for the remedial works have been provided by experts employed by the Assembly Commission. Accurate costs and timescales for the proposed works will be provided when the works are tendered for. The work is to fix previous problems, so…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  24. Debate contribution: Parliament Buildings: Roof Repair

    Thank you for the response. The Member will know that, a few years back, quite a bit of work was done to the roof of the Building, but that work has not really stood up to the test, because, in some places, water is still penetrating. We can see the effects of that in some parts of the Building. Will the Member give…

    Not analysed

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  25. Debate contribution: Parliament Buildings: Roof Repair

    I thank the Member for his question. Initial safety measures, including scaffolding installation, have been implemented to help ensure the ongoing safety of Building occupants and to facilitate the necessary maintenance work. Experts employed by the Assembly Commission have assessed the damage, determined how it is to…

    Not flagged

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

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