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 feel the need to remind the House that if we are going to talk about the ongoing presence of paramilitary organisations, we need to address the elephant in the room, which is the IRA army council that oversees Sinn Féin. The motion, which, I believe, was written with the best of intentions, is calling on the First…
FlaggedLegacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarismCriteria met: Dog-whistle messaging.
I condemn paramilitary activity and organised crime. I hope that all my colleagues throughout the Chamber will agree that that needs to be thoroughly eradicated from our society. It is criminal gang behaviour that creates a chill factor in communities that want to move past division and focus on moving forward. As the…
I thank the leader of the Opposition for bringing this valuable debate to the Chamber. One of the issues facing the Assembly and, indeed, society in Northern Ireland is that we have given agency to so-called paramilitaries when instead, as my learned friend behind me has said on many occasions, we should call them for…
Over the weekend, I was reflecting on what to say on the motion, and I remembered how, a number of years ago, when I was a deputy lord mayor, I was invited to give a welcome speech at a mental health conference that was taking place in Belfast. It was running all day, but I asked if I could stay on after the welcome…
It has been 30 years since the loyalist ceasefires and 26 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which provided a historic and inclusive political process aimed at ending conflict and building a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for everyone across our society. The process offered everyone in our…
I thank the Member for giving way. He is making some powerful points. Further to a report by his former colleague John Kyle — he has done some interesting things, although I do not agree with all of them — that, I am sure, the Member will reference, does he agree that there is a difference between a conversation that…
It is a sad state of affairs that paramilitaries continue to exist and exert control over government and society in such a negative way. We have allowed that to continue while we inadvertently take sides, accept our own narratives and excuse our own positions. When I was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, I never…
I support the motion. This is an area where my party and the Opposition have much in common. It is crude to put a figure on the harm, destruction and suffering caused by paramilitaries, but the draft Programme for Government does so, and that figure alone should cause us to stop and think. The coercive control of…
I will make a few points on the Opposition motion. The presence of organised criminality continues to be a scourge on many communities across Northern Ireland. It is incumbent on us all to challenge the continued existence of paramilitary organisations and all groups that are involved in criminal activity. It remains,…
I very much welcome today's motion. It is particularly well timed, given the level of public anger about the two separate Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) meetings with DUP Ministers in past weeks. When the LCC was founded almost a decade ago, many hoped that it would be instrumental in facilitating loyalist…
I beg to move Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Thirty years ago this month, the Combined Loyalist Military Command (CLMC) announced its cessation of violence. That announcement came a month and a half after the Provisional IRA had announced its ceasefire. Thirty years is, by any measurement, a long time; it…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in Donaghadee. Should that become a murder investigation, she will be the fifth woman murdered in Northern Ireland in six weeks. The Justice Minister was unavailable to come to the House yesterday to address…
The Strangford ferry has been suspended from the start of this week to allow essential maintenance work to be carried out at the quayside. Of course, that essential work is welcome, and it is good to see its being delivered. However, I put on record my concerns about how the Infrastructure Minister handled the…
I want to raise the importance of speech and language therapy (SLT), its effectiveness when it is used as an early intervention and the current prevalence of need for it in Northern Ireland. We already know from research that a two-year-old's reading ability can strongly predict their later attainment at school.…
I raise the tragic killing of Mary Ward, who was brutally killed in south Belfast around two weeks ago. Mary was originally from west Belfast, and the community there and across the city are deeply horrified by the killing of that young woman. I publicly extend my deepest sympathy to the family, with whom I have been…
Two weeks ago, the First Minister became embroiled in the Michael McMonagle scandal. While the Dáil has found time for a debate on the issue today, MLAs in this Chamber had a mere 30 minutes to question the First Minister. Many of those questions remain unanswered and, indeed, need serious scrutiny. We heard plenty of…
I highlight a remarkable initiative that took place in East Antrim last Thursday, which was World Mental Health Day. Two of our most historic landmarks, Chaine Memorial Tower in Larne and Carrickfergus Castle, were illuminated as part of a campaign called, "Passing Waves: Hope Through Light". That unique light and…
An issue that is affecting an increasing number of my constituents and that we see coming in waves every summer is bus passes for rural dwellers. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to put a question for oral answer to the Education Minister in the Chamber, but, unfortunately, I was not able to ask him my supplementary…
I congratulate those involved in getting the NI childcare subsidy scheme live. A few weeks ago, at the all-party group on early education and childcare, we heard from the Early Years organisation, which is responsible for the implementation of the scheme. It worked intensely to get the scheme live and continues to…
In recent weeks, there has been a marked increase in rural crime, including agricultural machinery theft, in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. The effect of that on farmers and the rural community is devastating. As I have said many times in the Chamber, many in our farming communities are at breaking point. Costs have…
Beidh an Lá Idirnáisiúnta um Dhíothú na Bochtaineachta ann an tseachtain seo. Is ábhar í an bhochtaineacht a bhfuil Comhaltaí ag dul i ngleic léi le fada an lá, agus tá an straitéis frithbhochtaineachta ar cheann de phríomhthorthaí na hoibre sin. Caithfidh an straitéis frithbhochtaineachta bheith ag forbairt léi i…
I congratulate all community transport operators across Northern Ireland as part of Community Transport Week. As many Members who have listened to me long enough will know, I worked in community transport for a couple of decades before I came to the House, so it is only right and fitting that I congratulate my former…
It is my pleasure to congratulate the phenomenon that is Isla McManus, the 11-year-old from my constituency of North Belfast, who this week made it all the way to the final of Junior Eurovision. Isla, despite her young age, managed to see off hundreds of other young people from across this island to make it to the…