Results 1-20 of 207 for speaker:Pat Ramsey

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: British-Irish Council Summit Meeting (17 Nov 2009)

Pat Ramsey: I welcome the Minister’s detailed statement and, in particular, I welcome the work that the collaborative spatial planning group has done to date. We look forward to any new themes and work programmes that that group may produce. One of the most important issues discussed was the economic downturn, which affects so many communities, and small businesses in particular. Have the Executive...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Regional Development: A5 Dual Carriageway (16 Nov 2009)

Pat Ramsey: I thank the Minister for his reply. I know that he responded previously to this question, but, given the continuous constraints and pressures on budgets North and South, is the Minister still in a position to confirm that funding remains in place for the project?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Disability Strategy (16 Nov 2009)

Pat Ramsey: What protocols are in place for written communications for people with visual impairment disabilities? I have had a number of representations from people with visual impairments who have received letters in small print and on coloured paper and cannot understand them.

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

Pat Ramsey: I beg to move the following amendment: At end insert “; and also calls for the north-west gateway initiative to be renewed under the authority of the North/South Ministerial Council with reports to plenary and other formats.” The SDLP commends the motion that has been tabled. It is clearly very timely, and the party also welcomes the comments of my colleague in the Foyle...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Child Abuse: Ryan Report (2 Nov 2009)

Pat Ramsey: The Member made the point that the state placed the children into homes and establishments and failed them because it did not provide inspections and regulations in those establishments. Therefore, we now have a responsibility to provide support and services to victims of abuse. I think that the Member will agree with those comments.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Child Abuse: Ryan Report (2 Nov 2009)

Pat Ramsey: Does the Member agree with the call in the SDLP motion for the Executive to commission a report on the extent of the abuse? Does he also agree with our call for the Executive to provide funding for services and support for the victims? Will his party support that call?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Education: Ministerial Meetings (2 Nov 2009)

Pat Ramsey: Will the Minister confirm again that she is open to an agreed solution on the transfer procedure? If so, will she confirm that she will meet with the education spokespersons of the parties that are represented in the Chamber?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Child Abuse: Ryan Report (2 Nov 2009)

Pat Ramsey: Will the Member give way?

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

Pat Ramsey: I welcome the motion from the Committee for Employment and Learning, and I look forward to the contribution from the Minister. The education maintenance allowance is a useful, targeted package that encourages and enables young people to remain in education. It sends a strong signal from the state about the importance of education, and it is an investment in all our people, particularly young...

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

Pat Ramsey: I thank the Minister for coming to the House with such a detailed report, and I hope that programme-led apprenticeships are a success. I understand that the training organisations that are part of the Training for Success scheme are saying that placement levels are as low as 25%. Can the Minister, therefore, explain how he hopes to engage with and encourage employers that are not normally...

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

Pat Ramsey: I take the Member’s point but, in the past, government work could be directed at specific areas as a result of Executive programme funds; that is the difference. The lack of alignment to socio-economic objectives is why we opposed the Budget and the Programme for Government, and we explained that at the time. It is also why we proposed in the Assembly that the Budget and the Programme...

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

Pat Ramsey: I, along with other colleagues, wish Robert a happy birthday, and hope that he enjoys many more. I support the motion. I thank the Committee for Employment and Learning for bringing forward such an important issue. I welcome the Minister, and look forward to his contribution. I recently spoke to the manager of a women’s centre about the value of childcare to education, and she gave me...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Social Development: Special Purchase of  Evacuated Dwellings Scheme (13 Oct 2009)

Pat Ramsey: I welcome the Minister’s response. Will she outline to the House the expected shortfall in the housing budget for 2010-11, which will have a detrimental effect on those exceptional cases under the SPED scheme?

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

Pat Ramsey: I welcome the Minister’s statement. In response to a question from the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Employment and Learning, the Minister referred to the outsourcing of some of the training programmes. Will the Minister outline the steps that his Department could take to ensure that locally based organisations have an opportunity and will be available to conduct training on...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services And Public Safety: Ambulance Service: Western Health and Social Care Trust (12 Oct 2009)

Pat Ramsey: 2. asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the proposed cuts to ambulance hours in the Western Health and Social Care Trust.          (AQO 188/10)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services And Public Safety: Ambulance Service: Western Health and Social Care Trust (12 Oct 2009)

Pat Ramsey: Is the Minister aware that a recent BBC report showed that in England — or Britain — in over 91% of calls in which a rapid response vehicle was sent out, an ambulance was sent out also? In light of that, can the Minister tell me the number of rapid response vehicles that were sent to emergencies in which an ambulance was also required because the rapid response paramedic could not...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Employment And Learning: Apprenticeships (28 Sep 2009)

Pat Ramsey: Will the Minister outline what actions his Department is taking to ensure that apprentices are treated fairly and that there is a consistent approach to the training of apprentices across Northern Ireland? The Committee received a report that expressed concerns because there is no model of good practice regarding the training.

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

Pat Ramsey: Why is Sinn Féin so spooked by the prospect of an SDLP justice Minister? Will the Member and his party support an SDLP nomination?

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

Pat Ramsey: Would you support an SDLP nomination?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial StatementS: North/South Ministerial Council  Plenary Meeting (14 Sep 2009)

Pat Ramsey: I welcome the deputy First Minister’s reference to progress that has been made on the A5 from Aughnacloy to the north-west. In light of the haemorrhaging of so many jobs in the north-west — 3,000 jobs in recent months — and in view of the great hope, aspirations and opportunities in health, education and access to employment opportunities for the region with the north-west...