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.
It is unfortunate that the Member has decided to take away from that great opportunity for us to sell our wares and let people know that we are very much open for business. It was an investment summit that we turned out to and participated in. We had a great conversation on the Friday at the Council of the Nations and…
There was next to no media coverage of the First Minister and deputy First Minister's attendance at the international investment summit in London or, indeed, of the Council of the Nations and Regions last week in Edinburgh. Why were local media not given access to those events? Was it related to the First Minister…
The investment summit was an opportunity for us to make clear that our economy is very much open for investment. It allowed us to be visible to a wide range of global investment stakeholders and to engage directly with companies that might consider investing here, as well as those that already have a presence. We were…
I thank the Member very much indeed for giving way. I was on the Enterprise Committee when the RHI scheme was brought through, and I sat across the way for a good part of the inquiry. Members have talked about documents being inaccurate and misleading, consultations not being available to them, evidence being hidden,…
Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I want to set out my party's position. It is with regret that we debate this. The controversy around RHI alone warranted better engagement with the Committee and the groups that represent RHI boiler owners. "RHI": three letters that terrify some people, horrify others and, further, have left…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I intend to keep my remarks short. I welcome the Minister's proposal to close the scheme in order, as has been highlighted already, to be fair to participants and the public purse and so that there is no increased liability. It will obviously touch on the vast majority of participants,…
I and my party have deep concerns regarding the draft RHI scheme regulations 2024 and will therefore vote against them. The Northern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) Act 2019 outlined a commitment to a 12% average rate of return, yet the new tariff falls short. We know all too well the deficiencies of the RHI…
I beg to move I seek the Assembly's approval of the draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024. The 'New Decade, New Approach' document, which was published in 2020, states: "RHI will be closed down and replaced by a scheme that effectively cuts carbon emissions." The current…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Members for their contributions. The regulations mark a further step in the implementation of the Period Products (Free Provision) Act 2022. As I stated in my opening remarks, the regulations will sit alongside the Executive Office's separate duty under the 2022 Act to make period…
I welcome the draft regulations. As referred to by the junior Minister and the Chair of the Executive Office Committee, a lot of work has already been done on this important piece of legislation. It would be remiss of me to not honour the work of former MLA Pat Catney, who invested a lot of time and energy in the…
I beg to move Today, we seek the Assembly's approval of the draft Period Products (the Executive Office Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024. The introduction of the draft regulations is required under the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which began as a…
To conclude, the Minister is aware of the Committee's strategic priorities, which, again, have all been touched on today, so I am asking whether a ruling can be made on the need for the Hansard report to be accurate when Ministers refer to the work of the Committees.
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I note that comments have been made by the Minister in relation to the work of the Education Committee. I would like the Speaker to make a ruling on the need for Ministers to be accurate in their statements in the Chamber around the work of Committees. He said that the RSE inquiry that…
I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome a number of the recommendations that you have brought forward. I appreciate that the issue has been touched on, but I want to go into a wee bit more detail on your recommendation for an additional managing authority. I would like a better understanding of that. You…
The Minister has acknowledged that there is a cliff edge at 18 years for those with special educational needs. Is there scope to extend his proposed legislation for those with special education needs, not necessarily to compel them to stay in education to an older age but to enable them to do so where a special school…
I thank the Minister. I hope that the Loyalist Communities Council was not forewarned about his announcement and that it had no role in shaping it. On raising the age of educational participation, what work has the Minister done to secure extra funding for schools and colleges, including education support workers, and…
Minister, classroom assistants play a vital role in the education of many children, yet they merit no mention in your statement, and your Department's response to the review talks merely about reducing their number. What will you do for that vital sector of the education community, particularly for their security of…
I thank the Minister for his statement. He mentioned reform of area planning. What does he envisage will be involved in that reform? Will there be a rural needs assessment, with the engagement of the community?
I welcome the Minister's important statement and the key areas for reform that he has identified. Can he say more about the basis for increasing the age of participation in education and training to 18?
Thank you, Minister, for your answers so far. We have waited 10 years for the online careers portal, and progress on the 14-19 framework has been heavily criticised in a Northern Ireland Audit Office report on skills. What is the Minister planning to do to get that back on track?
I thank the Minister for his statement. Will he provide some more detail on the curriculum review and, in particular, how better outcomes can be achieved on literacy and numeracy?
The Executive Office strategy to end violence against women and girls cites RSE as an incredibly important tool to help reduce such violence. Given the weeks that are in it, we should try to depoliticise and not trivialise such matters. Minister, will you commit to ensuring that further education colleges and schools…
At the Education Committee last week, I asked when we could expect the Department's response to the independent review, so it is great to see an initial response today. I also welcome it that the Minister will come to the Committee soon. I also noted at the Committee that he had a propensity to launch political…
I thank the Minister for his statement. The Minister mentioned the need to value our workforce and the need to attract and, of course, retain teachers. Will the Minister seek to maintain parity with teachers' pay and conditions in the rest of the UK?