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 aware whether we were invited. I look at every invitation favourably. As the Member will know, I spend my days, evenings and weekends out and about, engaging with excellent projects. I do not know whether we were invited. I do not remember declining an invitation to attend. As I said previously, we need to be…
I thank the First Minister for her answer. She previously told the Assembly that the museum had nothing to do with TEO despite TEO having spent the money to build it. I did not notice any representative from TEO in the photographs of the official opening. Were Ministers invited, and why could none out of four attend?
Of course. As the junior Minister said, there are so many excellent projects out there that really improve community relations. No doubt the museum plays its part in that. That goes without saying.
Yes. I talked earlier about growing our economy and its benefits and selling points. The fact that we are focused very much on regional balance and ensuring that we have a fair economy is a strong point to make. I welcome the fact that the Economy Minister has put forward proposals to ensure that there is regional…
Go raibh maith agat. Minister, I am sure that you will agree that addressing regional imbalance is key to a thriving, progressive economy in the North of Ireland.
We are working our way through that. It comes to an end in the early part of next year. We are keen to get to the juncture where we work with the Irish Government, because, obviously, they are a major funder. We want to build on the good progress that has been made to this point. Nobody can dispute that the north-west…
First, the Education Minister will need to contact me to raise any concerns that he has. We can see where it goes from there. Having not been over the policy remit, I cannot comment in more detail.
I thank the First Minister for her response. Will she commit to engaging with Treasury to secure Northern Ireland's exemption from the policy, if that is suitable?
That is a policy responsibility for the Department of Education, so the Education Minister will be best placed to answer that question. He has not, I believe, asked for support on it, but I would need to double-check to be sure. Obviously, the policy responsibility falls to the Education Minister.
We have already demonstrated that that is what we are absolutely committed to doing, when you look at what we have been able to do. Our draft Programme for Government is out for consultation. We have had the first-year legislative programme. We have made advances in childcare. We have made advances across a raft of…
I thank the First Minister for her answer. What assurances can she give us, as Members, and the public that the Executive Office will provide a strong, strategic agenda between now and the end of the mandate?
I assure the Member that there will be plenty of disagreements between me and the deputy First Minister: that is the cut and thrust of politics. There may be a different policy emphasis at different times, but we are working our way through those issues. There are times when we have differences in approach, but, given…
Again, we are on the public record as having said that the party received legal advice that naming the individual would not have been appropriate, given that no criminal charges were brought against him. However, we also stated clearly that he was dealing with a severe mental health crisis and was deemed to be…
First Minister, I will try that again, because transparency is important. I ask you again: why did you, as deputy leader of Sinn Féin and First Minister designate, allow Niall Ó Donnghaile to remain as one of the most senior members of Sinn Féin and the leader of your party in the Seanad for three months — three…
There is a danger of just repeating and repeating. We have answered this question very clearly. All child protection protocols were followed. All child protection protocols were followed, with the immediate referral to the PSNI and social services. The protection of the young person was our primary concern, as it…
Since the Executive were restored, I and other Ministers have used every opportunity to urge the British Government to fairly fund the Executive so that we can, in turn, support our local economy and our public services. We know that, prior to the election, we were dealing with 14 years of cuts and chaos under the…
I thank the Minister for her response; she has partially answered my second question. Will the Minister and the Executive recommit to pressing the British Government for fair funding for the Executive and for guaranteed long-term funding for our farming community?
Yes. Absolutely. I thank the Member for his question and for being vocal on the issue, as are other Members of the House. Farmers were told that the funding would be replaced pound for pound, and they are still not sure where they stand. The cut to farm support, particularly for small family farms, will have a…
There are mechanisms in place — this is one of them — for Members to ask me questions. I am being as open and transparent as I can be, and we have answered the questions that have been posed by Members here and in the Assembly Committee and, likewise, in the Dáil. I take the opportunity to make a plea to all political…
I thank the First Minister for her answer. The House recognises that your credibility as the northern leader of Sinn Féin overlaps with your credibility as First Minister for all. To help restore trust in your ability to hold the highest office in the Assembly and in keeping with the Nolan principles, will you consent…
As I said when I answered questions in the House, I want to be open and transparent and answer the questions that are posed to me, and I have endeavoured to do so. It is important that I repeat my assurances that safeguarding is of the utmost importance to me, and I have said that in the Chamber over the last number…