Results 1-20 of 398 for speaker:Tom Elliott

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 12 (Seizure and destruction of things liable to spread disease) (17 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: A precedent has obviously been set, so I will not break it. I have always supported farmers getting a fair value for their product when receiving compensation. The Minister has outlined how that will happen, so I am quite happy to support the amendment.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 11 (Deliberate infection) (17 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: I recall that issue being debated in the Committee as a matter of human rights. We discussed whether it was right that, if a son had played no part in the deliberate infection of animals or other rogue activity, as Dr McCrea described, he or any other family member should be held liable and not be allowed to keep other animals on the farm just because of the father’s, or any other...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 11 (Deliberate infection) (17 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: I declare an interest as a farmer. It may come as a surprise to many Members to hear that I have supported the Department in getting tougher in amendment No 6. In that sense, history is being made. The amendment is good. The Committee was determined to ensure that the Bill recognised the difference between those who deliberately flout the law and are guilty of offences and innocent farmers...

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

Tom Elliott: My question relates to the financing of the A5 project by Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and whether funding has been approved on both sides of the border. It was anticipated that €400 million would come from the Irish Government to pay for the A5 and the A8 projects. Has that been secured? Has the approximate £400 million that Northern Ireland must contribute to the...

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

Tom Elliott: I thank the deputy First Minister for that statement. Some issues to do with agriculture have not been expanded on. Was there any discussion about last year’s dioxin problem, and, if so, was there any indication of how compensation could be reached for the farmers in Northern Ireland who were affected by that?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: EU Fisheries Council (16 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: I thank the Members who secured the debate. It is a timely intervention, given that we are approaching what I call the “Christmas shenanigans” in Brussels. That has become almost an annual event, and it is an unwelcome Christmas present for fishermen in Northern Ireland that appears to get worse every year. Every year, we anticipate that the situation will improve, and we are...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Regional Development: DRD: 2010-11 Budget (16 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: 4. asked the Minister for Regional Development for an assessment of how the proposed budgetary reductions for 2010-11, as outlined by the Minister of Finance and Personnel, will impact on his Department.        & #160;   (AQO 379/10)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Regional Development: DRD: 2010-11 Budget (16 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: I thank the Minister for that answer; maybe we will have to speculate somewhat. There has been a suggestion of £370 million of savings for the Executive, £210 million of which have been set aside to cover the deferment of water charges. Will the Minister confirm whether £210 million will cover the full costs of the deferment of water charges for 2010-11, or will it cost nearer...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services and Public Safety: South-West Acute Hospital (16 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: 5. asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the new South-West Acute Hospital. (AQO 366/10)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services and Public Safety: South-West Acute Hospital (16 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: I want to put on record my thanks to all those concerned for the progress that is being made on the new hospital at Enniskillen, including the construction agency, the Minister and the Department. A vicious rumour has been circulating that money is being taken from the funding for the new hospital in Omagh to help to pay for the project at Enniskillen. Will the Minister clarify the situation?...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Legislative Consent Motion (16 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: Unfortunately, the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister are unavailable today. I apologise on their behalf. I will speak for the Committee on the motion. I thank the junior Minister for his explanation of the legislative consent motion and the background to the Bill. During completion of the Committee’s...

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

Tom Elliott: Surely the Member’s party has already said no. Mrs Hanna clarified earlier that it said no.

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

Tom Elliott: I thank the Member for giving way. Will he enlighten me on comments that his party leader made this month? Mr Adams said that the DUP is in breach of the commitments that it entered into at St Andrews. Will the Member expand on what those commitments are and how the party is in breach of them?

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

Tom Elliott: Will the Member provide clarity: if the Ministry of justice falls in 2012, where will the powers be designated?

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

Tom Elliott: 4. asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline any discussions they have had with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor regarding the possible format of a solution for savers with the Presbyterian Mutual Society.         0;   (AQO 321/10)

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

Tom Elliott: Unlike others, I have no vested interest, large or small, in the PMS. There has been public speculation about the possibility of a local bank being involved in rescuing the society. Will the deputy First Minister comment on the form that such involvement may take?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: If that happened, not only would it be the case that one part of the United Kingdom — Northern Ireland — would labour under a regime of economic rights that applied nowhere else in the United Kingdom, but what would the Republic of Ireland do? I support the motion.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: Given that Mr Weir started his contribution where Mr McElduff finished, I will start with the point that he finished on about the Government being so tied up in knots by rights that they cannot move. My point is that it would be worse to tie the economy up in knots and thereby ruin the prospect of creating more jobs.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: I will give way in a moment. If the Member would let me start, I might have the opportunity to give way. The difficulty that a bill of rights will present to the entire population of Northern Ireland, not just the Assembly — it is tied up in enough knots — has not been addressed. I am thinking of the wider economy.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Tom Elliott: It is good to hear Mr Maginness argue against the report that he claims to support. My colleague Danny Kennedy outlined the abject failure of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to gain the cross-community and cross-party support that are required. Today’s debate underlines that. Can any Member seriously imagine that it would be in the interests of the stability of the devolved...