Results 1-20 of 159 for speaker:George Robinson

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Block Grant (17 Nov 2009)

George Robinson: I wish to highlight the very real dangers that exist for Northern Ireland if our block grant is cut. Last week we read and heard in the media that the level of child poverty in Northern Ireland is extremely high. We in the Assembly must ask ourselves whether we should accept that or fight to reduce it. The level of unemployment, although stabilising, is a concern that the Assembly must...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Social Development: Housing Budget (17 Nov 2009)

George Robinson: Does the Minister agree that the Hospital Lane area of Limavady in my constituency, which she visited last year, should be a priority for house repair to optimise home provision in the Limavady area?

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

George Robinson: The Minister has raised a number of points. I want to refer to integrated ticketing. Does he agree that it would be advantageous to have integrated ticketing on all Translink services before cross-border services are integrated?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Regional Development: Belfast Rapid Transit System (16 Nov 2009)

George Robinson: Will there be a detrimental impact on budgets for public transport in the rest of Northern Ireland when the rapid transit system is introduced?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 1 (The Department of Justice) (10 Nov 2009)

George Robinson: I will address the specific point of the election of the Minister for the new Department of justice. The topic has produced much discussion, but it is a relatively simple concept for Members to understand. The Bill is straightforward. Clause 2 sets out a process for the appointment of a Minister of justice by vote of the Assembly. I point out that the process of appointing a justice Minister,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Enterprise, Trade And Investment: Economy (3 Nov 2009)

George Robinson: How does Northern Ireland’s unemployment rate compare with that in other regions?

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

George Robinson: I represent a constituency that has borne the brunt of the economic downturn, with more than 1,000 job losses. I therefore welcome this debate, which gives me the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts that the DETI and DEL Ministers have undertaken to try to encourage investment in the north-west and other areas of Northern Ireland. I point to the great support that Minister Foster has given...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Personal Protection Weapons (19 Oct 2009)

George Robinson: As the motion states, there has been a considerable threat from dissident republican terrorists in Northern Ireland, which has been all too evident in the last few days and weeks. In conjunction with that, there is the policy of refusing PPWs to the people who are, due to present or past service, deemed to be at risk from terrorists. That is a dangerous road to go down when people’s...

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

George Robinson: I also congratulate Robert Coulter. With the grace of God, I hope that he is granted many more happy birthdays. Well done Robert.

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

George Robinson: Northern Ireland’s successful recovery from the current economic downturn lies in its being able to provide the educated workforce required by firms that are expending or setting up here for the first time. To ensure that such a workforce is in place when needed, we must ensure that the talent in our population is given every opportunity to shine, regardless of previous educational...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Social Housing (6 Oct 2009)

George Robinson: Just last week, I received a response from the Minister for Social Development regarding the renovations of dwellings for pensioners and disabled people in Coleraine, which is in my constituency. Although I appreciate the Minister’s budgetary difficulties, her response informed me of yet another setback for that long-planned renovation scheme, and there is no starting date for the...

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

George Robinson: Although the provision of grit piles and salt boxes is welcome, does the Minister agree that, particularly on footpaths leading to schools, it is unfair to depend on the goodwill of a member of the public or school staff? Roads Service staff have the knowledge that is required, so they would be the most cost-effective way of deploying the resources in grit piles and salt boxes.

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

George Robinson: I commence by identifying some areas of crucial importance; namely, public confidence, budgetary requirements and infrastructure. I do not believe that public confidence and the budget are available in significant quantities at the moment to ensure an early date for devolution of policing and justice. However, we must be prepared for the day when it eventually arrives, and the debate is...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Adjournment: Sectarianism in Coleraine (22 Sep 2009)

George Robinson: I condemn sectarianism in all its forms, and from wherever it comes. I commit fully to the task of eliminating it. I want to portray a more balanced debate on what is really happening in Coleraine. Coleraine has always been a town that has enjoyed good community relations. That was especially true of the Heights and Killowen areas over many years, in which both sections of the community...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Compensation from the Libyan Government (14 Sep 2009)

George Robinson: I support the motion. As other Members said, there is no doubt about the connections between Libya and the IRA. That numerous deaths, injuries and suffering were caused in Northern Ireland thanks to Libyan-supplied weaponry and explosives is apparent and accepted by most of us. I support fully those victims of IRA terrorism who have the courage to seek compensation from those who supplied...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial StatementS: Regional Transportation Strategy Review (14 Sep 2009)

George Robinson: I welcome the capital investment in public transport in recent years and agree that public transport can provide many benefits for the population. Does the Minister agree that it is essential to have public transport that suits the user, or passenger, rather than the company? We saw a situation on the Londonderry line recently in which the Minister had to intervene to ensure that passengers...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Increased Income for Ex-Service Pensioners (16 Jun 2009)

George Robinson: Over the last few weeks, none of us could have been oblivious to the 65th anniversary of the D-day landings. The veterans’ stories are moving, and memories of that day remain vivid to the people who were there. By multiplying those experiences by many thousand, one can start to comprehend the scale of service that service personnel give to the United Kingdom. For that reason, we must...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (16 Jun 2009)

George Robinson: I congratulate the Minister of Finance on the work that he has done in balancing the books. That is a difficult task at any time, but during an economic downturn it is obviously even more difficult. The Assembly must recognise that the Minister has achieved a tremendous feat. Despite what some Members think, the monitoring rounds enable the Northern Ireland Budget to maintain flexibility. The...

Northern Ireland Assembly: social development: Social Housing (9 Jun 2009)

George Robinson: Has the Minister identified any potential sites on publicly owned land in areas of housing stress?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Health, Social Services  and Public Safety: Public-Sector Jobs (8 Jun 2009)

George Robinson: Will the Minister detail his plans for the retention and creation of front line nursing posts west of the Bann?