Results 1-20 of 454 for speaker:Tommy Gallagher

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Rural Schools (17 Nov 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: I want to clarify Lord Morrow’s comment on the amendment: the SDLP has not adopted it as part of its motion. We are happy for the amendment to be put to the vote, of course, and to support it. This is the second debate on schools this year. I thank Members who contributed to the debate on small schools that took place before the summer recess. [Interruption.]

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Rural Schools (17 Nov 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: The motion was tabled because the problem of over-provision of school places has been recognised, and steps must be taken to address that. However, we face that problem against the background of the Bain report, which highlighted two issues: the financial implications for schools because of their enrolments, and the capacity of schools to deliver the new curriculum. That new curriculum is so...

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

Tommy Gallagher: I preface my question by welcoming the positive comments with respect to the A5 project and by expressing my regret about the omission of the east-west, Belfast to Sligo route. With respect to the all-Ireland dimension to sustainable transport, does the Minister agree that one sure way of getting more people out of their cars and on to public transport would be to develop an all-Ireland...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Regional Development: Water Supply: Rural Areas (16 Nov 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: Will the Minister explain why connection costs for newbuilds in the countryside have increased significantly to, in many cases, four-figure sums? Will he explain that dramatic increase in such charges?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Environment: Planning Reform (9 Nov 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: I want to ask the Minister about the extent of the interest that emerged around the early involvement of stakeholders in any future planning process, and whether the issue was mentioned in a significant way. Does he intend to issue draft guidance on that issue to the transition committees?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Local Government Reform Programme (20 Oct 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: The Minister has tied up a number of loose ends regarding the reorganisation of councils that have been outstanding for some time. Some questions arise as the result of the report and, in particular, about the implications for ratepayers. The PWC report refers to additional costs of £119 million and, indeed, underlines key works such as that the full additional costs will be passed from...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Regional Development: Water Supply (19 Oct 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: Does the Minister accept that, although we are led to believe that domestic charges have been deferred, some people are being billed for the use of water in their homes? Given that those concerned are mainly vulnerable people in supported housing developments, will the Minister undertake to ensure that they do not receive any further bills for their water? Will he work with his colleagues in...

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

Tommy Gallagher: We have all lived through 30 years of conflict, and we know all about the violent conflict that resulted in deaths on both sides of the community. In that regard, Newtownbutler is no different from other areas of Northern Ireland. Members from both sides of the community have lost their lives, and some of the darkest incidents during our troubled history occurred in and around the...

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

Tommy Gallagher: I accept what the Member said about some of the local people who lost their lives; I mentioned that earlier. It is the view of the SDLP that, with all lives lost as a result of the Troubles, the grieving of families and their right of commemoration must be respected. Apart from a political connection that Bobby Sands had with the constituency, none of the hunger strikers was from...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Migrant Workers (5 Oct 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: I commend Anna Lo and Naomi Long for proposing the motion. It focuses our attention on the increase in the number of migrant workers who have come to this part of the country, particularly over the past decade. That has presented us all with many challenges to our approach to accepting difference. Most migrant workers make a positive contribution to our economy, but I will return to that...

Northern Ireland Assembly: environment: Waste Repatriation (5 Oct 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: Is the Minister aware that, on 29 June 2009, his predecessor as Minister of the Environment told me in a written answer that the tender process would take between three and four months? Given that the current Minister is using the same form of words that was used at the end of June, will a specific date for the commencement of work be issued after the contract is put in place?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (29 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: [Interruption.]

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (29 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: I apologise to the House, and to the Minister in particular, for being a few minutes late for the debate; I was delayed at a meeting of the all-party Assembly group on learning disability. The SDLP has serious concerns about the Bill. For one thing, the full financial implications have yet to be debated fully and openly. We are being asked to support a Bill that, we are led to believe, will...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (29 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: We all understand very well that we have a strange democracy here, in which, under a ministerial code, Ministers are required to support Executive decisions. [Interruption.] I am outlining the party’s position, and I referred to the position of Mr Hamilton’s party because it is so well known. Despite all the promises to which I referred, what happened in 2008? Water charges for...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statements: Joint Ministerial Committee  Plenary Meeting (29 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: Along with my colleague and other Members, I thank the Minister for his statement. I have a question about cross-border workers, which is within the ambit of North/South and east-west arrangements. I refer particularly to the double taxation issue and tax credits, which are the concern of the Treasury. The tax credits are very complicated since the tax credit offices located in Newcastle or...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statements: Joint Ministerial Committee  Plenary Meeting (29 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: Will the First Minister raise that matter? Does he agree that it is unfair to ask cross-border workers to fill in the euro:sterling exchange rate when they complete their forms?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: McClean Conacre Case (28 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: I remind Members that I have declared an interest in farming in the Register of Members’ Interests. I thank the DUP Members who tabled the motion. It is clear that the motion and the amendment have been accepted by all the parties, and that there is a strong united front on an approach to the issue that will lead to turning the Treasury’s thinking around. At least one precedent...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Winter Services around Rural Schools (28 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: I welcome the Minister’s news. It is some help that the statement recognises that there are problems for some primary schools in rural and isolated areas. My question is when those schools will know? Identifying schools with difficulties is one thing, but there are some problem areas. Does the Minister recognise the difficulties of Boa in County Fermanagh, where children from that area...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (22 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: I thank the Member for giving way. He spoke about compromise, and I remind him that the SDLP opposes the Bill because it will stand the principles of equality and inclusion, as laid out in the Good Friday Agreement, on their head. It looks as if Sinn Féin will nod in assent to that. Furthermore, the exclusion of the d’Hondt principle, regardless of what party it applies to,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Social Development: Warm Homes Scheme (15 Sep 2009)

Tommy Gallagher: I commend the Minister and her Department for locating one of the warm homes scheme provider’s offices in Enniskillen, a town in the constituency and the county that has by far the greatest level of unfitness. However, as we all know, when all these schemes are done, we will still have people who face fuel poverty. Does the Minister foresee anything more that can be done about that poverty?