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.
Vehicle testing is a topic that is always guaranteed to spark debate. Bizarrely, it seems to stoke a greater furore than access to healthcare or the bit-by-bit dismantling of our welfare system. I have received more messages ahead of this debate than I did on school uniform costs or tackling health waiting lists. I…
I beg to move I declare an interest as someone waiting for an MOT test appointment and in that my husband's has relations who work in the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) system. I make my comments as a Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA and not as Chair of the Infrastructure Committee. The motion is of extreme…
I thank the Member for giving way. Does she agree that it is really important that men create that role model, particularly for young boys, which will be instrumental in breaking through the ceiling and challenging those stereotypes that, indeed, many of us grew up with?
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. On Friday, we celebrated International Women's Day, and, yesterday, we celebrated Mother's Day. This morning, I woke up to a Spice Girls song on the radio. That shows what I listen to in the morning, but it certainly was apt given the motion in the Chamber today. It takes me back to that…
I appreciate the opportunity to take part in the debate on this cross-party motion to recognise International Women's Day. While it is a global celebration of the remarkable achievements of women throughout history and an acknowledgement of the persistent challenges that women continue to face, International Women's…
I appreciate the opportunity to support the motion. The motion celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. We must remember that much of what we celebrate was hard won and hard fought for. On many occasions, it was fought for and won by victims and survivors in the North, across this…
I am happy to say a few words on the motion. I begin by thanking the deputy First Minister for mentioning the Ulster Women's Unionist Council, which produced some fine parliamentarians, not least Dame Dehra Parker, who became the longest-serving female in the Northern Ireland Parliament and who, like Robin Swann,…
Last Friday, International Women's Day was marked at Belfast City Hall with the unveiling of monuments to Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney, two iconic Belfast women whose lives were dedicated completely to opposing slavery, exploitation, injustice and oppression. Both were champions of gender equality,…
I thank the Member for giving way. Would she agree that we are so lucky that we have, now more than ever, more female representatives and that, in order to ensure that we keep that momentum and increase the number further, we must address issues such as the public safety of Members and the lack of an efficient…
I am glad to speak on the motion, and I welcome the fact that it has been signed by Members from across parties. I spent last Friday, International Women's Day, at an event organised by a local organisation, Kilcooley Women's Centre, which is in my constituency. The atmosphere at and spirit of the event captured…
I thank the Member for giving way. We all sit here in relative comfort — some of us will feel that more than others — but many women across the world suffer violence for their faith. Last week, in northern Nigeria, 200 women were kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists. Those women will suffer violence, rape and forced…
I wholeheartedly support the motion. I speak as a DUP woman, a unionist woman and an MLA for South Antrim since 2011, as you will be aware, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am still the only female to be elected to the House for the constituency of South Antrim. At 39 years old, I became the youngest and only ever female to serve…
I am sure that the Member is aware of this too, but does she agree that the policy decision in some local government areas to remove pitches for women's sport to facilitate the men's sport should absolutely be done away with? We know that that is happening in not only local government but private sporting areas.
"Happy International Women's Day", or women's week, to everybody. I hope that everybody had a positive and enjoyable time over the weekend not only celebrating our achievements but advocating for greater equality. I want to use my time to highlight the inequalities that still exist for women in sport, but I also want…
First, I need to put on record an apology: I gatecrashed the women's caucus last week. I was midway through a handful of sandwiches, thinking that I was in an all-party group meeting. I was treated very kindly but told to leave the room, which I did. It is my pleasure to speak today on this motion, which recognises…
International Women's Day is a global celebration of the remarkable achievements of women across the world. I thank the Speaker for an inspiring event on Thursday evening, when we heard from civic female leaders about their roles in the judiciary, universities, the arts and sport. It was a very inspiring event.…
I thank the Member for giving way, and I am sorry for interjecting in such a good speech. On Saturday, I met the deputy First Minister at a breakfast where I had two of my young children with me. Will she agree that one of the ways of breaking barriers and killing stereotypes is with young people? The introduction…
I want to add some short words to the debate. International Women's Day is an opportunity to take some time to celebrate women, to mark the achievements of women and to call out the continued harms and challenges that many women face. I am deeply proud of being a woman, and, as I said last week, I am proud of being a…
I am delighted to support this cross-party motion celebrating International Women's Day, the theme of which this year was to inspire inclusion. When you think of what "inspiring inclusion" means, it is to involve everyone and include everybody to ensure that we can all access prosperity and that nobody is excluded…
I beg to move The motion is about International Women's Day 2024. It is imperative that we not only reflect on the progress that we have made in advancing women's rights but acknowledge the challenges that persist at home and across the globe. Today, we not only reflect on and celebrate International Women's Day but…
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Will the Speaker's Office rule on the Standing Order on ministerial statements? It is my understanding that if the Assembly is sitting in plenary format, ministerial statements are heard in the House.
If an emergency were to occur and the legislation that we are looking at were not in place, how big a distraction would the need to prepare legislation during such an emergency be for your Department and your officials?