Results 1-20 of 492 for speaker:Sean Neeson

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

Sean Neeson: I thank the deputy First Minister for his statement. Tourism Ireland was considered as part of the discussions. I am delighted that Carrickfergus Castle featured very prominently in a recent national advertise­ment from Tourism Ireland.

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

Sean Neeson: Will the Minister give more details on the cost-saving measures that were discussed at the meeting?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Finance and Personnel: Regional Economic Strategy (10 Nov 2009)

Sean Neeson: 3. asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for an update on the status of the Regional Economic Strategy.        
60; (AQO 350/10)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Finance and Personnel: Regional Economic Strategy (10 Nov 2009)

Sean Neeson: Mr Speaker.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Finance and Personnel: Regional Economic Strategy (10 Nov 2009)

Sean Neeson: I heard what the Minister said, but does he recognise that the lack of an economic strategy limits what the Executive can do in relation to rebalancing the economy? He mentioned the Barnett review; will that not be constrained without the required overarching strategic policy?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: North-west Region (3 Nov 2009)

Sean Neeson: My party and I have always believed in equality of opportunity. We must remind ourselves that all areas of Northern Ireland have been adversely affected by the global downturn, as have all areas of the British Isles — the Republic of Ireland in particular. In recent times, my constituency has seen major job losses at Nortel, Ryobi and FG Wilson. I have witnessed the impact of a major...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: North-west Region (3 Nov 2009)

Sean Neeson: I am sorry, but I will not. I do not have much time. Are those job losses to be ignored? I say no. Therefore, the Member needs to be clear about what he means by the “north-west”. Gregory Campbell was quite right to say that the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment cannot simply force companies to invest in a particular area. They will invest in the areas in which they...

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Parliament Buildings:  Security Arrangements (6 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: During plenary sessions, seven police officers will be on duty from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm or until 30 minutes after the House rises, whichever is later. That number of officers allows duties to be rotated and facilitates periods of rest and refreshment. During Committee meetings and as the week progresses, the number of officers will gradually reduce to three, and they will normally be on duty...

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Parliament Buildings:  Security Arrangements (6 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: The pre-agreed costs are in keeping with national guidelines and are reflected in the service level agreement. That agreement will be reviewed and the security situation, as it exists, will impact upon that. The operation represents an annual cost of approximately £413,000, or £8,000 each week. That figure is calculated using nationally agreed rates and is kept under constant review.

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Parliament Buildings:  Security Arrangements (6 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: I agree entirely with Mr Spratt. The Michael Stone incident very much impacted on the number of police personnel who have been taken on board to secure the Building and look after the safety of Members and the public.

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Parliament Buildings:  Security Arrangements (6 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: The situation is kept under continuous review. The Commission aims to develop value for money while ensuring the safekeeping and well-being of Members of the Assembly and the public.

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Annunciators: Electricity Costs (6 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: The estimated cost of the electricity consumed by the annunciator system during the summer recess was approximately £113. The associated amount of CO2 produced was less than 700 kg. Members will appreciate that the method used for calculating such costs is not an exact science. The calculations are based on the following figures: the average operational power use of a TV set in the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Annunciators: Electricity Costs (6 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: The annunciator system is left on during recess to provide an information service to visitors. Furthermore, during the summer recess, a series of tests was completed on the system. The environmental review has identified that as an area where electricity consumption may potentially be reduced. It may be possible to switch off the annunciator during the recess periods or turn off the TV sets...

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Accomodation Strategy (6 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: Following completion of the space utilisation study, the accommodation review project team presented options and associated costs to the Assembly Commission on 18 June. The Commission requested that further consideration be given to the provision of fully functional Committee rooms, with a view to carrying out a pilot scheme during the summer recess. As a result, the Members’ Reading...

Northern Ireland Assembly: assembly commission: Accomodation Strategy (6 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: Consideration is being given to improving the Committee rooms and enhancing the facilities in them. The Member may be aware that the issue of accommodation for the public was one of the big issues raised at many of the Assembly roadshows across Northern Ireland. In addition, work is progressing on cleaning the library store in the basement so that that space can be better utilised. It is also...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Independent Review of Economic Development Policy in Northern Ireland (DETI/Invest NI) (5 Oct 2009)

Sean Neeson: I thank the Minister for her statement. I welcome the publication of the review, particularly in relation to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). One recommendation is that SMEs should be integrated into the supply chains of large companies. How does the Minister react to that? Secondly, Professor Barnett and his team will appear before the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Social Tariff System (29 Sep 2009)

Sean Neeson: I welcome today’s debate, because as the Chairperson of the Committee for Social Development said, the Committee has been dealing with the issue of social tariffs for some time. Fuel poverty is higher in Northern Ireland than in any other part of the UK, with 34% of the population living in fuel poverty. Research has shown that a reduced tariff, based on personal circumstances — a...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Social Tariff System (29 Sep 2009)

Sean Neeson: I am sorry; I do not have the time. A considerable number of consumers in Northern Ireland still use household coal, domestic heating oil and liquefied petroleum gas, and there is no control over the distributors of those fuels. The point was rightly made that some mechanism should be developed to bring the sale and distribution of those energy products under control.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Unemployment: Economic Strategy (29 Sep 2009)

Sean Neeson: I am glad that the Barnett review has been published. I very much regret that it was not seen by the members of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment before it went to the press, but I know that the Minister had no control over that. How does the Minister intend to respond to the Barnett review? How does she respond to the suggestion that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: National Asset Management Agency (28 Sep 2009)

Sean Neeson: I welcome the debate, and it has shown that the issue is controversial. NAMA has caused deep divisions in the Republic of Ireland, even among academics. However, this debate is not about the pros and cons of NAMA. Although it will impact on Northern Ireland, the issue is one for the Government in the Republic of Ireland. However, our Ministers have an important role to play in safeguarding...