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.
Over the summer, we have seen the demonisation and, quite frankly, dehumanisation of people across the community, including those who are in the Orange institutions — mothers, daughters, fathers, friends, husbands and wives who are in these organisations. The message that I gave at the fleadh is one that I stand over…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Sectarianism, hate crime and community relationsCriteria met: Identity framing, Cultural grievance politics, Controversy escalation.
Thank you for your answer. Is it the case, then, that the DUP will take no action, no matter how serious the charges are, until a person is convicted by the courts of a criminal offence?
This is, of course, topical questions to the First Minister and the deputy First Minister, but I advise the Member that our safeguarding policy is online. If you go on to the DUP website and just click on the safeguarding policy, you will be able to read it there.
A court case is ongoing, so none of us in the Chamber knows the facts in relation to that issue. However, I assure the Member that, in the Executive Office, we have been driving forward our ending violence against women and girls strategy, and funding is out on the ground. As I said, we will continue to work very…
Does the Minister agree that, just because domestic abuse incidents occur within family settings or among families, that in no way lessens the seriousness of such incidents? If so, does she agree that the comments of the DUP party leader in that regard were not only wrong but potentially dangerous?
Absolutely. There is extensive research on that. Of course, the strategy that we have works hand in glove with the Department of Health and Department of Justice document on tackling domestic violence. Of course, those are important issues. It is important that those two strategies complement and supplement each other.
It is absolutely inexcusable for the Chair of the Finance Committee not to understand the process. If we were to set a Budget that is short by £1 billion this year, the immediate result would be that an accounting officer could not sign off on anything further in their budget. They would immediately be cutting and…
Deputy First Minister, you did not answer my question. The Opposition have said that we support the Executive's efforts to secure more money, but, in refusing to set a Budget, you are pushing public services into crisis. Public servants have contacted me about the real-world consequences across health and education —…
Every day that I turn up to do my job as deputy First Minister is about pushing for progress in Northern Ireland: making Northern Ireland work and driving better public services for everyone. The reason why we do not have a Budget is that the Budget envelope is not adequate for our public services. If we were to set a…
Thank you, Mr Speaker. First, I wish to add my sincere condolences to those expressed about Mr Stephen Walker, who was an extraordinary journalist, a very decent and kind man and someone who will be greatly missed in our public life and in politics here. There is universal feeling for him and his family.
I am grateful to the Member for her question. We understand the seriousness of the issue. The Member will be aware that issues around domestic abuse also factor into the Department of Justice. The deputy First Minister indicated in an earlier answer that letters of offer have gone out. That applies to those engaged in…
This week, I tried to get a constituent who is a victim of domestic violence a safe space and access to services to keep them safe in a refuge, and that was not possible due to the large number of people who desperately need help. Many community organisations that work tirelessly to help victims of domestic violence…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 5 and 12 together. I may need slightly more than the allocated two minutes to give a wholesome answer to the Members. Ending violence against women and girls is an Executive priority and a key part of our Programme for Government. Our first two-year delivery…
We have been trying to maintain consistency. The Member will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for the First Minister or me to interfere politically regarding individual funding applications and their scoring. All applications go through a process that is led by officials and are scored against criteria. I do…
I will follow on from my South Belfast colleague. In your initial response, deputy First Minister, you mentioned that very worthy projects were being funded — I have no doubt about that — many of which focus on the unrest. I was dismayed last week to find out that a really good project in my constituency was turned…
Not only has funding now gone out to groups but the First Minister and I moved quickly to put together a new fund this year: the response fund of almost half a million pounds. Working very closely with officials in the Executive Office, the Education Authority (EA), councils and our partners in Communities in…
Deputy First Minister, I welcome some of the warm words that you have said today, but in all the engagements that I have had with ethnic minority and newcomer communities since the appalling racist riots of June, I have heard that they feel let down by the response of the First Minister and the deputy First Minister,…
I thank the Member for his question. It was a busy summer, with plenty of activities, some of which I engaged in with the Member, not least the Farnborough air show, at which we supported our aerospace and defence companies, right through to the fleadh in Belfast. It is incredibly important that we take opportunities…
There is no doubt that good relations funding does important work, and it is right that the deputy First Minister and the Executive Office support that work, but it is also important that the deputy First Minister show leadership within the community to ensure good relations not just here in Northern Ireland but on…
We have been absolutely clear that no one should be engaging in clearly provocative or sectarian behaviours. I have come out and condemned those behaviours whenever I have seen them. Of course, it is important that our funds be inclusive and that every part of society be able to celebrate, mark and engage in their…
I thank the deputy First Minister for her response. Does she agree that applications for public funding should include a commitment to promote good relations and that funding should be withdrawn from marching bands when they repeatedly engage in deliberately provocative and sectarian behaviours?