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.
To ask the Minister for Communities whether there are any plans to change the Housing Executive points system to include those who are survivors of historical institutional abuse.
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail his Department's consideration of removing the barriers to housing access for people in the private rented sector, particularly in relation to estate agent requests for homeowner guarantors for all applicants, regardless of their income and employment status.
To ask the Minister for Communities for his assessment of (i) the system in the private rental sector that requires applicants to have a guarantor who is a homeowner; and (ii) how this disproportionately impacts lower income families and those coming from overseas, which contributes to inequality in the private rental…
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any alternatives available to tenants of Housing Associations who would have previously benefitted from the Right to Buy Scheme, broken down by Housing Association.
To ask the Minister for Communities how many complaints of damp, citing a lack of, or inadequate, cavity wall insulation, have been made to the Housing Executive in the last four years.
I sincerely thank every Member who has spoken during the debate. It has been said a few times, but it really does not get more personal than Members choosing to share their own wee bits of personal recollection and accounts of their experience of baby loss. It is an emotional debate for many Members. As Diane said,…
In addressing the motion and winding up on the amendment, I not only acknowledge the importance of the issue but agree with our colleague Mark Durkan whose contribution indicated that there are two separate issues and that it would perhaps have been better had we dealt with them separately so that the Health Minister…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion and on the development of a baby loss certificate scheme for parents who have lost a baby during pregnancy before 24 weeks. At the outset, I pay tribute to those women and parents, who have gone through the heartache of losing a baby during pregnancy, for shining a…
This is not an easy motion to speak on. It deals with deeply emotive subjects that can be incredibly traumatising for women and families, and it is focused on the loss of the most innocent of lives. All of us across the House only want the best for our families and children. While many of us differ on policy in this…
I begin, like others, by thanking Kellie for sharing her very personal story about the loss of her babies. As others have mentioned, we are thinking of all the families who have suffered the loss of a child or children. Over the past week, I have spoken to numerous people who have reached out to me to talk about the…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion. Indeed, I pay tribute to all who have already spoken, particularly Kellie for making her important contribution and for sharing her experience of loss. Losing a baby at any stage during or after pregnancy is, without doubt, one of the most difficult…
Baby loss is one of the most traumatic experiences that a person can go through in their lifetime. Pregnancy should be a time of hope, joy and excitement that is filled with memories for prospective parents. Unfortunately, for women who suffer miscarriage and baby loss, nothing could be further from the truth. The…
I thank the Members who have spoken on what is a sensitive but very important issue. I also pay tribute to my colleague Kellie Armstrong. This is not the first time that I have heard Kellie speak out bravely about her own circumstances, but that is not commonplace for everyone, and the bravery of every woman who…
Kellie, it must have been very difficult for you to share your story. It really took me, so I am thinking about you. It is great that we are able to bring this issue to the Floor, and, hopefully, we can start to make some changes in Northern Ireland. Miscarriage and other types of baby loss prior to 24 weeks in…
Pregnancy loss and baby loss is probably one of the most traumatic things that anybody can go through. I pay tribute to Kellie Armstrong for sharing her experience. I am sure that it is not easy to recall those experiences. She put it more eloquently than any of us could. I thank her for sharing her experiences with…
I thank the Member for giving way and for speaking so eloquently about baby loss and miscarriage. I recently spoke in my office with an inspiring lady who had experienced a miscarriage but was not offered a bereavement support midwife or specialist counselling service. Does the Member agree with me that that is…
Baby loss is a topic that is often met with silence, yet it affects countless families across the North and a number of people in the Chamber. Some here have been very brave and have spoken out about it; others have not spoken, but that does not make them any less brave. I acknowledge their loss. In my years of…
I feel wholly inadequate following the Member for Strangford. Through you, Mr Speaker, Kellie, thank you so much for sharing such a personal testimony. I am going to read from a script, but many Members will know that I am passionate about the rights of children and young people, and that extends right to pre-birth…
I will start by saying to anyone who has undergone a loss in pregnancy, at birth or just after their baby has been born that I am very sorry. It is a grief that is very hard to bear, and I thank Mr Robinson for the words that he has just spoken. That hit home to me: you will understand in a moment. I have spoken in…
I beg to move the following amendment: The continued absence of a local perinatal and paediatric pathology service is extremely disappointing. There is no doubt that it places an additional burden on bereaved parents at a devastating time in their lives. It should not be the case that a mother faces the stark choice…
I beg to move Baby Robyn Elizabeth Purvis was born sleeping on 21 April 2023 at just under 17 weeks' gestation. That date will be etched in the hearts and minds of her mum and dad and, indeed, her whole family, who still and always will grieve the immense loss of baby Robyn, particularly as they approach her first…
Does the Member agree with me that the reason having for the time-bound element in the motion is that the consultation can happen afterwards? There are multiple different routes for doing this, so we do not accept that a timeline should not be in the motion.
I thank the Member for giving way. Does she share my concern that parties have had decades to implement anti-poverty strategies and have failed to do so? Does she also share my concern that when parties have the Communities Ministry, they do not implement anti-poverty strategies and then, when another party has that…