Results 1-20 of 265 for speaker:Robert Coulter

Northern Ireland Assembly: Social Development: Warm Homes Scheme: Fuel Poverty (17 Nov 2009)

Robert Coulter: I thank the Minister for her answer. What impact has the change in the eligibility criteria for the scheme had on uptake and on tackling fuel poverty across all sections of society?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Social Development: Warm Homes Scheme: Fuel Poverty (17 Nov 2009)

Robert Coulter: 4. asked the Minister for Social Development for her assessment of the effectiveness of the warm homes strategy in tackling fuel poverty. (AQO 394/10)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Adjournment: Primary School Provision in Ballymena South (3 Nov 2009)

Robert Coulter: I declare an interest as I am the chairman of the board of Castle Tower School in Ballymena, which has an impact on the entire area of Ballymena. I thank Mr Storey for bringing this Adjournment topic before the House. I approach it not from any sense of aggravation against the Minister, the board or the Department. I come to the debate with a sense of sadness, because, living in that...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Persecution of Christians in Orissa State (2 Nov 2009)

Robert Coulter: Considering the traumatic circumstances that surrounded the creation of the Indian state, the country has been a remarkable example of democratic tolerance and respect for difference. For the majority of India’s modern existence, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and many more religions have lived together side by side in relative harmony and stability, and they still do. However, the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Education Maintenance Allowance (20 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I thank the Chairperson of the Committee for tabling the motion, but I must say that I have great difficulty with it and cannot support it. However, I will not push for a Division. The main reason why my colleagues and I cannot support the motion is that we believe that it has been tabled by the wrong Committee and is being directed to the wrong Minister. Although DEL has a role in the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Education Maintenance Allowance (20 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I thank the Chairperson for that explanation, but I must point out that it is the Department of Education that adjudicates on which courses fall within the scope of the rule on the 15 hours’ teaching time, among other rules. I must also highlight the fact that the motion fails to identify where the extra money would come from, which is an especially serious problem at this time of tight...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Programme-led Apprenticeships (20 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. Having been an apprentice at one stage, very long ago, I appreciate your kind words today. I welcome the Minister’s statement, and congratulate him on the time and energy that he has given to solving the problem. Will the curriculum for the programme-led apprenticeship scheme be designed and governed by the industry, and not by remote academics?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Childcare for Students in Further  and Higher Education (19 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: Mr Speaker, I beg your indulgence and that of the House for a moment to reply sincerely to the very good wishes from all sides of the House. I treasure the friendship of the Members of the House and its staff. Having reached the ripe old age of 80, I have to say that it means a lot to me to look back with many memories. I hope that, in the days to come, Members of the House will be kind...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Childcare for Students in Further  and Higher Education (19 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I thank the Member for bringing that information to the House. Until the Executive take decisions on the broader issues that we have been discussing, we will return to the House and keep debating those issues.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Childcare for Students in Further  and Higher Education (19 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: Yes, I will give way.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Childcare for Students in Further  and Higher Education (19 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I agree that the Committee should be commended for tabling the motion. As someone who has spent many years in higher and further education and has seen the benefits of having childcare facilities available to parents, especially young parents, so that they can continue their education, I think that we should bring this forward. I fully support the motion.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Construction Industry Training Board (13 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I, too, welcome the Minister’s statement. Does the Minister agree that many construction firms, especially small ones, will welcome the increase in the levy threshold? How will that help them on the ground to come back from the recession?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Adjournment: Unauthorised Monument in Newtownbutler (6 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that it would be more fitting for Sinn Féin to make every effort to find the graves of the disappeared and to let that information be given to the public and police on both sides of the border, rather than to erect a monument that causes hurt and despair among many people?

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Lord and Lady Craigavon’s Tomb (6 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I thank the Member for his question. Members may know that the tomb of Lord and Lady Craigavon has been an integral feature of the official tour script since 1999. It is established practice for the Events Office and Education Service staff who deliver official tours to routinely inform our guests of the tomb’s location. The Member will particularly wish to know that, following his...

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Lord and Lady Craigavon’s Tomb (6 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I have no problem with giving an assurance that that will be brought back to the Commission for consideration. However, I point out that, in inclement weather, it would be difficult to take parties out to see the tomb. From that point of view, we will have to consider how best to put the tomb on the itinerary and ensure that our visitors know all about it.

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Lord and Lady Craigavon’s Tomb (6 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: I hope that the Member is not suggesting that Lord Craigavon was trying to start an underground movement. I think that signage should be better and that it would be of great help to visitors. I agree that the tomb is an important part of this Building’s heritage and history, and I will certainly bring the matter to the Commission’s attention. I am sure that there will be no...

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Lord and Lady Craigavon’s Tomb (6 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: There has not been much discussion on that subject. However, if the Member is suggesting that we exhume some of the people he mentioned, I am sure that we could work in dead earnest to ensure that they are properly located here. Bringing that subject to the Commission’s attention will raise a subject that is dear to the Member’s heart.

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Assembly Website (6 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: The business case for the project and the procurement strategy for the design and hosting phase of the project have been drafted, and they will be agreed at the next project board meeting in mid-October. The project team continues to evaluate content management systems and will put together demonstration sessions for the project board and clerking and reporting staff.

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Assembly Website (6 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: The Communications Office continually works to update and design the structure of the present website, introducing enhanced services and making use of social media channels, such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. At my age, I am not sure whether there are any more, although at times in this House we certainly twitter a bit. Recently, a new service was introduced: the video archive....

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Parliament Buildings: Bilingual Signage (6 Oct 2009)

Robert Coulter: Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, in carrying out all its functions, powers and duties, to have due regard for the need to promote equality of opportunity among the nine categories of people identified under the legislation. Paragraph 6.2 of the commission’s equality scheme provides that, within a year of the approval of the...