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 wish to update the Assembly regarding winter fuel payments in Northern Ireland. Being in government is about making choices. Sometimes, we have to take difficult decisions in the best interests of the people we serve. The Labour Government have sought to portray the decision on the winter fuel payment as difficult…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Further to points of order made earlier, is it in order for me to say that I understand that concerns have been expressed about comments that I made as I was leaving the Chamber yesterday? I believe in the cut and thrust of debate. I believe that we need to robustly challenge each…
I thank the Minister. He will know that Northern Ireland Water has special dispensation; in fact, we do not know the full scale of the pollution. We know that 40% of storm overflows already fail the standard and, indeed, that 1,200 overflows are still to be assessed. When, exactly, will we see details of what his…
Minister, in a previous answer to me, you advised the House that 24% of excess phosphorous entering the water environment in Northern Ireland is from waste water treatment works, yet your statement does not even mention the Department for Infrastructure or Northern Ireland Water. After your experience last night,…
Minister, thank you for your statement. You called attention to the commitment in 'New Decade, New Approach' to the Executive establishing an independent environmental protection agency, but you seemed to then recoil from that position: mixed messaging. What if the independent panel cannot reach an agreed position on…
The Member outlines the issue of air quality and ammonia in Northern Ireland and how my Department, as a statutory consultee, is replying to the relevant planning authorities on that. I am aware of those concerns. When I took on this ministerial office in February, I inherited a number of challenges, one of which is…
I thank the Minister for his statement. The Minister will be aware from last night's rally of the strength of feeling among farmers about the issue of planning and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. There are 200 applications in the system, many of which are for replacement buildings on farms. Has the Minister…
I am aware of the Member's Bill and am working to engage constructively with the Member on it. There are lots of good elements in the Bill, and we talked about those recently. I believe that we can work towards introducing the Bill in this mandate. As the Member knows, we have a multi-party Executive. It is an…
I thank the Minister for another marathon statement, but, sadly, it seems that we are running round in circles a bit. The Minister is aware that I am working on a Member's Bill that includes provision for the establishment of an independent environment agency. I was half hoping that the Minister would beat me to it,…
I thank the Minister for his statement and his commitment to the environment. What impact will improved environmental governance have on the tackling of illegal dumping and fly-tipping?
That is entirely untrue, Matthew, and you know that. You know that I am firmly committed to the environment in Northern Ireland. You know that I stand very strongly in support of our manifesto. However, I face significant challenges in this job, one of which is about how to bring people with us and improve our…
Minister, I was startled by this statement. In the past 20 years, we have had, I think, four reviews of environmental governance and, in that time, we have seen Europe's worst environmental crime at Mobuoy and one of the most startling examples of environmental degradation at Lough Neagh. Your party's 2022 manifesto…
Minister, like me, you are a champion for young people's voices. How will the panel engage with young people, and who else do you envision the panel engaging with?
Minister, in your statement, you clearly commend the work of NIEA. However, is bringing in an independent agency not a duplication and does it not increase bureaucracy? Were you listening last night to the farmers' views of your environmental statistics so far?
Minister, the statement referenced the NIEA. Without pre-empting the outcome of the inquiry that you are setting up, how do you envisage that NIEA will interface or sit alongside the new proposed IEPA?
I welcome the Minister's statement, particularly around the issues of scrutiny, accountability and public confidence, given the matters that he and I have previously discussed in my constituency. Is he able to assure us that the new arrangements will ensure that communities can access those helplines as and when they…
I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, will you explain how the members of the independent panel were chosen? What exactly were the processes in the appointments or the applications?
I thank the Minister for the statement and for the progress that has been made on the review of environmental governance. What difference does the Minister think that an independent environmental protection agency, or a similar body, might make in preventing environmentally damaging scenes such as those that we see…
Whether it is the NIEA or an independent environmental protection agency, it is imperative that a body be appropriately funded and staffed. Will the panel look at the performance of NIEA in the correct context while recognising underfunding? What process was undertaken to identify and appoint the panel? Is it not…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire fosta. Assuming that the independent panel that has been announced today leads to the creation of the independent environmental protection agency, we will then have the IEPA, the Environment Agency, the future climate commissioner and the Office for Environmental Protection. How would the…
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas. This issue, particularly environmental improvement protection and an agency to provide that, has been talked to death in the Assembly. The Minister's party and my party have committed to it. I am a bit puzzled by paragraph 30, which states that the panel's recommendations:…
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to make a statement to the Assembly on my plans to review environmental governance in Northern Ireland. Environmental governance is about ensuring that the decisions we make about how we protect and enhance our natural and marine environment are effective. They could be…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Subject to Standing Order 65(1)(c), will the Speaker make a judgement on whether the Communities Minister was guilty of a breach of good order in the Assembly Chamber yesterday when he aggressively told me to sit down while I was seeking clarity on the Alliance Party's position in…
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will be brief. I congratulate Coleraine-based charity Ashes to Gold, which has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2024. Ashes to Gold is a registered charity that serves the people of the Causeway coast and glens area. Its work is dedicated to promoting positive mental health…