Results 1-20 of 1,298 for speaker:Martin McGuinness

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: I made it clear in my statement that a considerable amount of work has been done on that matter. Much more information on the issue is now widely available, and that is of great benefit to those teachers in each jurisdiction who, on occasion, wish to change schools and work in a different jurisdiction. The trade unions are involved in the information seminars that are taking place, and those...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: As we go forward, INTERREG is of tremendous importance to all of us. The INTERREG IVa programme provides in the region of €256 million to encourage economic development. That is the only EU programme operating in the North that has increased its budget — a 40% increase on the budget for the INTERREG IIIa programme. To date, the programme has approved 34 projects worth...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: A review has been carried out, and a 10% cut for board members was approved at the meeting.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: Following the report of the European Commission task force, the Executive agreed to increase the North’s transitional and inter-regional participation. In 2009, we have already surpassed the number of successful projects that were achieved under those programmes in the entire 2000-06 programme period. There are 22 successful projects with partners here, and they will receive EU funding...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: As I said earlier, we are all conscious, North and South, that we face huge economic pressures and difficulties. We will hear the outcome of the Budget announcement that will, no doubt, come from Dublin in the next few weeks. That will outline the steps that they are prepared to take to try to pull the economic circumstances around to a satisfactory level. No one is under any illusion...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: During the meeting, we had a broad discussion with Minister Martin on practical and mutually beneficial co-operation in the context of the current economic and budgetary challenges facing each jurisdiction. Minister Martin outlined the challenges facing the Irish Government and the steps that they propose to take to meet those challenges. He said, for example, that the NAMA legislation is...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: I said in my statement that we expect the new building to be ready for occupation early next year. We received a progress report, and I am told that the builders are up to the roof and that progress has been astonishing. We recognise the symbolism of the establishment of the North/South Ministerial Council alongside the power-sharing arrangements. I also compliment the work done by the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. In compliance with section 52C(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, we wish to make the following statement on the fifth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in institutional format, which was held in Stormont Castle on Wednesday 11 November 2009. The Executive Ministers who attended the meeting have approved the report, and we...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: The short answer is no; there was no discussion on that matter. However, I will endeavour to get the Member an up to date assessment of where the situation sits, and I will write to him about that.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: It was a very wide-ranging discussion. North and South, we are dealing with serious economic difficulties and pressures, and we are all very conscious of the need to work in a spirit of co-operation, where it is mutually beneficial. Micheál Martin, the First Minister and I had a very useful discussion. It was obvious from the contributions that all three of us are equally determined,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Institutional Format (17 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: We are all very conscious of the tremendous work that Tourism Ireland does. The North/South implementation bodies and Tourism Ireland are funded jointly by the Executive and the Irish Government. Budgets for those bodies are determined annually, based on agreed business plans which are approved by sponsor and finance Departments, Ministers in both jurisdictions, and by the NSMC. Expenditure...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Consideration Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: I thank the Member for his contribution but remind him that Paul Goggins, during the debate on the 2009 Bill at Westminster in March this year, said: “The Bill provides no fall-back position beyond May 2012. Frankly, it is not for us in this place to determine any additional model beyond that period; it is a matter for the Assembly…There is no fall-back position, as I have said,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Consideration Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: Anybody who looks at the record of that period and at the public discourse from political parties around what were or were not priorities at the time will fail miserably to see any effort by the SDLP to raise the issue of the transfer of power in the way that Sinn Féin has raised it since we became the largest nationalist party. I say that because the issue is not important just for Sinn...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Consideration Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: I will give way in a minute; I do not want to have my train of thought interrupted. I listened carefully to the Members who were arguing for the amendments. SDLP Members spoke for something in the region of three hours. Members gave way to them left, right and centre. I do not have a problem with that, but it was clear from the initial contributions from SDLP Members that they were more...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Consideration Stage (10 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: Martina Anderson, who is sitting beside me, has been shivering for the last hour. A vicious rumour circulated at the time of the Second Stage of the enabling legislation on the devolution and transfer of power that Alex Attwood was going to speak for an hour. In the event, he did. In retaliation, the First Minister spoke for nearly two hours. After that, I reminded the First Minister that he...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Office Of The First Minister And Deputy First Minister: Executive Confidentiality (9 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: The confidentiality protocol covers the detail and content of Executive papers, minutes, records, discussions and deliberations. It protects the space for expression of views while facilitating the reaching of an agreed position. The confidentially protocol exists only to ensure that the appropriate conditions prevail whereby all opinions and viewpoints can be freely voiced and considered in...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Office Of The First Minister And Deputy First Minister: Presbyterian Mutual Society (9 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: The First Minister and I are taking a very active and close interest in the ongoing work to find a solution to the difficulties of the Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS). We know that the matter is of great concern to members of the PMS and the wider community. The frequency with which we are asked by Members to provide updates on the working group that is addressing the matter demonstrates...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Office Of The First Minister And Deputy First Minister: Presbyterian Mutual Society (9 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: One of the options being explored involves the participation of a financial institution in a funding package. The Member will appreciate that the matter is complex and that, therefore, there is a number of challenging issues to deal with. It is vital that we ensure that any British Government backing for such a package does not breach EU state aid rules. However, I do not want to go into...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Office Of The First Minister And Deputy First Minister: Presbyterian Mutual Society (9 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: The Financial Services Authority confirmed that it investigated the activities of the PMS to consider whether it was conducting regulated activities without the necessary authorisation or exemption. The FSA concluded its investigation and decided that the PMS was conducting regulated activities without the necessary authorisation or exemption. However, on the basis of the information...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Office Of The First Minister And Deputy First Minister: Presbyterian Mutual Society (9 Nov 2009)

Martin McGuinness: That was one of the points that we made.