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.
Yes, while we were in Edinburgh, the deputy First Minister and I had the opportunity to meet Keir Starmer privately in advance of the meeting with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales. We raised the issue of funding for city deals. We absolutely underlined and stressed the importance of urgently securing the…
We are happy to report, as I have just done by answering the question. However, this falls outside the normal structures of reporting to the Assembly. We need to take advice with regard to that. However, we are very happy to inform the House that we saw it as a good opportunity to engage and discuss investment, shared…
I thank the First Minister for her answer. I welcome the fact that the First Minister and deputy First Minister attended this event and are engaging with the Prime Minister and other UK regions. Will she commit to me and this House to make a full statement on the back of that meeting to outline its benefits to this…
We attended the inaugural meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in Edinburgh on Friday 11 October 2024. The council has been established to bring together Governments and authorities with devolved responsibilities to determine actions for tackling some of the biggest and most cross-cutting challenges that we…
I am always more than happy to answer questions that are genuinely about safeguarding, because it is so important that we get this right. I have clarified my position in relation to engaging with Fearghal McKinney and the British Heart Foundation. The Member knows that only too well, so he is just standing on his feet…
Is it not the truth that, given the remit of your office, you have lost all credibility, or does the fact that, with all other unionists in this Chamber seemingly having confidence in you to hold office —
First Minister, the last time that you came before the Executive Committee, you told us that you did not see Michael McMonagle at an event in this Building on 14 February, even though photographs emerged a few days later showing that you were within feet of him. You told us that you did not engage with the British…
I am very happy to engage with the Committee. I know that the Committee is seeking legal advice. I look forward to seeing that. I am happy to clarify the record in terms of the questions that were put to me.
Minister, last week the Executive Office Committee issued an invitation to you to attend the Committee this week with regard to safeguarding and representation of victims and survivors. Will you be coming to the Committee this week?
I repeat that all child protection protocols were followed, with an immediate referral to the PSNI and also to social services. The protection of the young person was absolutely our primary concern. Niall Ó Donnghaile was held accountable and faced serious consequences for his totally unacceptable and inappropriate…
In the interests of transparency for victims and survivors, just last week, the First Minister's party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, faced calls to correct the record in the Dáil after she appeared to have misled the House in relation to the age of the victim of former Senator and former Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Belfast…
Thank you for that. I commend the Member for the statement that she made earlier. Of course, we all send our heartfelt condolences to the families of each and every one of those women who have lost their lives because of violence against women and girls. Twenty-four women have been murdered since 2020. They were…
Following the further tragic news of yet more deaths of females in the North — indeed, I was on my feet earlier today in the Chamber to speak about that — can you outline your commitment to the ending violence against women and girls strategy on which your Department is leading?
On 13 September, in line with our child protection guidelines, and given that the complainant was under the age of 18, Niall Ó Donnghaile was suspended from the party and the issue was referred to the PSNI and social services in the North to investigate. At that point, I was made aware.
We are fully committed to protecting all children from harm and ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding and child protection. All staff in our Department must adhere to the NI Civil Service (NICS) child protection policy and guidance, and established procedures are in place for reporting concerns and…
The conference gave us an opportunity to set out our stall. I mentioned some of the selling points that we have, such as our strategic location. Dual market access is a unique selling point now and will attract investors. Look at some of the stats on our economic performance. In the past year, manufacturing exports to…
First Minister, what additional plans does the Executive Office have to promote Northern Ireland on the world stage and to help attract inward investment?
The purpose of the summit was to engage with international trading partners and demonstrate that we are very much open for business. We are confident that our positive engagement with stakeholders at the summit and the very clear message about our ability to support innovation and high-quality jobs will drive future…
I thank the First Minister for highlighting the North as a place for investment. Will the First Minister indicate the future benefit for the North as a result of the investment summit?
We are working our way through that. A previous submission was put out to consultation, and we will come back on that. I hope that it will be in the immediate period ahead. I cannot give you an exact date, but we want to bring it forward, because it is important that our investment strategy aligns with the Programme…
Last week, at the Executive Office Committee, we had some presentations on the draft investment strategy. Will you lay out the timescale for you and the deputy First Minister signing off on that?