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.
The issue crosses all constituencies and has been raised in the Chamber many times. It is one of the reasons why I wanted to move forward with preparing the groundwork for the legislation, which will be enacted in the next mandate. Councils will play a vital role in the consultation, and I commit to that being the…
I thank the Minister for his answer. That is good news. It is something I hear about daily in my constituency, but it is a problem across Northern Ireland. I see homeowners being taken advantage of, and it is really unfair, so it is great to hear about the work that you are doing. Can the Minister provide a more…
With the Speaker's permission, I will answer questions 1 and 4 together. A recruitment exercise to establish a dedicated team with the expertise required to take this work forward has now closed, and the team will be put in place in the coming months. Once established, the team will undertake detailed policy…
I thank the Minister for taking an intervention. I am seeking clarity on his point about the legislative imperative in the Bill. My understanding is that the Department implements a range of programmes, such as the extended schools programme or programmes to tackle educational disadvantage. Minister, are you saying…
I beg to move amendment No 1: In moving amendment No 1, I will also speak to amendment No 2 and amendment Nos 5 to 14. I will also refer to amendment Nos 3 and 4, which have been tabled by the Chair of the Education Committee. I will make my comments under three headings. The first is redrafting amendments, which…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank all Members for their contributions. I note and really appreciate the collegial and positive way in which the Bill has been discussed. I know that Members appreciate the importance of the policies that are included in the Bill, and that they will benefit everyone…
First, on a point of housekeeping, I apologise to the House for my not being in the Chamber for the start of the debate, particularly given the fact that I am the Committee Chair. I thank the Deputy Chair for stepping in at late notice to read out the Committee remarks. I was not a member of the Committee during its…
I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill in my capacity as infrastructure spokesperson for the Alliance Party. We have supported the general principles of the Bill and continue to do so. The three main aspects of the Bill are the implementation of temporary bans on water use, sustainable drainage systems and…
As a member of the Infrastructure Committee, I too welcome the opportunity to speak during the Consideration Stage of this important Bill. As others have said, a considerable amount of work has gone into getting to this stage through the Committee processes, during which the Committee, I believe, took the opportunity…
I welcome the opportunity to speak at the Consideration Stage of the Bill, important legislation that the Minister is bringing forward as part of her three-pronged approach to tackling issues with our waste water infrastructure, particularly when it comes to capacity. Addressing the challenges in waste water…
As members of the Infrastructure Committee, we support all the amendments that have been proposed and see them as providing important tidying up and clarification of the Water, Sustainable Drainage and Flood Management Bill. In my role as an MLA and as a civil engineer, I have spoken with industry, which has expressed…
I beg to move amendment No 1: There are 15 amendments that, I believe, strengthen and clarify the Bill. The amendments reflect the detailed work carried out by the Committee for Infrastructure, the Office of the Legislative Counsel (OLC), the Examiner of Statutory Rules and officials in my Department. I thank all who…
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to present this petition on behalf of the people of Kilclief, particularly the children, parents, staff and wider school community of St Malachy's Primary School who are fighting to protect the future of their school. For generations, St Malachy's has been at the heart of Kilclief. It is…
Thank you, Mr Speaker. As chair of the all-party group on neurology, and as someone who is living with multiple sclerosis, I rise to again highlight the issues facing those living with a neurological condition in Northern Ireland. Just last month, I stood on the steps of Stormont alongside the Northern Ireland…
I rise to acknowledge the historic four-day visit of the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to Belfast. Seeing that truly magnificent vessel, which is a titan of British engineering, standing proud against the Belfast skyline was phenomenal, as was borne out by the many — my husband included —…
We have heard some awful, hurtful and hateful rhetoric in recent weeks. I condemn all of that, and I condemn any abuse levelled at any politician or person regardless of their background or persuasion. With that in mind, I want to speak specifically this afternoon about comments made over the weekend by the North…
FlaggedDecided on a second assessment.Sectarianism, hate crime and community relationsCriteria met: Identity framing, Cultural grievance politics.
How many times must we hear about another scandal in the health service, and of how it has failed patients, before we take meaningful action? The urology services inquiry cost over £9 million. It found failures in leadership, governance and oversight that allowed patients to suffer serious harm. People waited for…
Last week, the Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, told the Assembly that landowners would know in a matter of days when their land would be re-vested, who would own it and who would have access to it. We are approaching a week from that statement, and landowners are still waiting for answers. The way in which they…
I am pleased to welcome the Court of Appeal's ruling last Tuesday to allow the A5 road upgrade to progress. It was a hugely significant day for the people of West Tyrone, who have waited far too long for that road to be upgraded and made safe. In the Chamber, I have said time and time again that the most important…
I pay tribute to Michael Canavan, who has sadly passed away at the remarkable age of 102. He was an extraordinary gentleman, and I held him in high regard. Michael was a giant in Derry's civil rights movement and a founding member of the SDLP who dedicated his life to standing up for his city and its people. It is…