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MLA Culture Wars

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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.

108,162 records match, page 3931 of 4327.

  2. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Network

    I thank my colleague Mark Durkan for bringing the motion to the Assembly. We can hear the engagement, breadth of interest and passion that there is about our rail network, its past, its, at times frustrating, present, and its huge potential. We are debating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to look again at how we move…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  3. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Network

    I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on what I and many others see as a vital public service. Our rail and bus networks throughout Northern Ireland are a lifeline to thousands of people, especially those who avail themselves of a SmartPass. As an MLA who represents the north-west, I know that we have been…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  5. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Network

    As Alliance economy spokesperson, I welcome the motion and the amendment, and I will speak to the motion from an economic point of view, in terms of delivering connectivity across this island, which is needed to renew and reshape our economy, provide growth and create jobs here in the North of the island. Good…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  6. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Network

    I was listening in earlier, and I look forward to hearing the rest of the debate. It was extremely foolhardy that rail was taken out of parts of Tyrone. In the south Tyrone part of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, we had a connection through Dungannon and the Moy, as well as a connection through Caledon, but that is all…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  7. Debate contribution: All-island Rail Network

    I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the amendment tabled by members of our party. Since the 1950s, the Northern Ireland rail network has been cut by some 450 miles. It is evident that we have suffered historical underinvestment in our rail network and services in comparison with regions across the United…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  8. Debate contribution: Irish Government Funding

    Unless I have received notification while I have been in the Chamber, we do not have a date for the next meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council. It is important that that engagement and those regular meetings, in plenary and other forms, begins to take place again. That will, hopefully, happen in the very near…

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  10. Debate contribution: Irish Government Funding

    It was really positive to have that engagement with the Irish Finance Minister. The investment by the Irish Government of €800 million is significant. For me, it very much demonstrates the power of joint working to deliver benefits for people across the island. It will make a significant contribution to the…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  11. Debate contribution: Unpaid Rates: Collection

    Obviously, a number of figures have been quoted in the media. Some of them would, from my perspective, be incredibly punitive on households and businesses. It will be for the Executive to decide what rate will be set, and I will have that discussion with Executive colleagues later this week. We have to get the balance…

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  13. Debate contribution: Unpaid Rates: Collection

    Over £1·5 billion of rates have been collected in this financial year. That is the largest amount collected by Land and Property Services (LPS) in a rating year, and over £140 million more than last year. Rating debt has increased since 2020. The Member will not be surprised that a number of factors were responsible,…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  14. Debate contribution: County Hall, Coleraine

    I will be happy to engage with the Member further on that. I am familiar with the buildings that he talked about, as they are in my constituency. The Department of Finance's vision is to be able to move between different Departments' buildings so that we maximise the potential of the office space to which we have…

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  15. Debate contribution: County Hall, Coleraine

    I thank the Minister for her answer and her commitment to replying. County Hall has a capacity of 700, but only a fraction of it is occupied. Would it be feasible to move the small number of staff from County Hall to Jubilee House in Ballykelly, which is also under-occupied? Will the Department enter discussions with…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  18. Debate contribution: Justice: Effective Funding

    The Budget-setting process is ongoing. Departments were asked to come back to the Department of Finance by the end of February with their initial pressures for the incoming year. I will then embark on a one-to-one process of engagement with Ministers on the pressures facing their Department and their bids and…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  20. Debate contribution: Justice: Effective Funding

    We are about to embark on the Budget-setting process for 2024-25. As part of that, I will meet each Minister with responsibility. I will engage with the Justice Minister on her needs and those of her Department and the bodies in it. I am sure that she will make the case for what she requires to deliver services.

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  21. Debate contribution: Office Estate Review: Consultation Update

    As I stated, there is a plan to reduce our footprint by 40%. That very much reflects not only the changing needs of the Civil Service but people's changing work patterns. The Member will be aware that a number of Connect2 hubs were established by the previous Finance Minister. There has been poor uptake of those. I…

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  22. Debate contribution: Office Estate Review: Consultation Update

    • Lord Elliott UUP
    • Oral Answers to Questions

    I thank the Minister for that update. I note that the consultation says that 70% of the estate cost is in the greater Belfast area, which means that only 30% is in the wider parts of Northern Ireland. Is there any indication that that will be rebalanced so that more of those estates are based in the remainder of…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  23. Debate contribution: Office Estate Review: Consultation Update

    The Department is responsible for the management and strategic planning of the NICS office estate, which includes ensuring that the estate meets the changing needs of the Civil Service. In 2023, the Department of Finance commenced a programme of work to reduce the in-scope office estate footprint by about 40% over the…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  24. Debate contribution: Shared and Integrated Education: Fresh Start Funding Withdrawal

    I thank the Member for that question. As I have stated, I am awaiting clarity from the Treasury about what exactly has been repackaged. We understand from officials that there are a number of funding streams. Fresh Start is one, and there are things that the British Government is responsible for, like the Levelling Up…

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    Assessment details Official Assembly record

  25. Debate contribution: Shared and Integrated Education: Fresh Start Funding Withdrawal

    I am afraid that people watching will find it absolutely astounding that no Minister has any idea what has been agreed in relation to reallocating existing money. Can she, or any other Minister, — There is chuntering from the sidelines from parties that would rather not wait for questions about important issues. Can…

    Not analysed

    Assessment details Official Assembly record

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