Results 1-20 of 71 for speaker:Adrian McQuillan

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Obesity (16 Nov 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I support the motion. The 2008 annual report from the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, Dr Michael McBride, states that: “Levels of obesity in children and adults in Northern Ireland continue to be a major health concern. Recent surveys indicate that around one in four girls and one in six boys in Primary One are overweight or obese, and that almost 60% of all adults measured...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Obesity (16 Nov 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: In the UK, 26% of total prescribing costs are attributed to complications experienced by overweight or obese patients. There is plenty more that I could say on the subject; however, I support the motion.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Home Improvement Grants (15 Sep 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: Does the Member agree that people who were approved for a home improvement grant are worse off now than they were previously? Those people have gone to the expense of getting plans drawn up and had planning applications ready to submit. Some of those people will be out of pocket and will be up to £1,000 worse off than they were before they started.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Finance And Personnel: Salaries/Bonuses: Senior Civil Servants (30 Jun 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I welcome the timely and important review. Is the Minister considering including the wider public sector in the review?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Senior Civil Service Pay and Bonuses (29 Jun 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I welcome the opportunity to debate the motion on the review of pay and bonuses for senior civil servants in Northern Ireland. A transparent, independent review that addresses any differences is welcome, but, as we are well aware, we are experiencing difficult economic times and the constraints that that poses on the public purse. Current bonuses that are due to senior civil servants are...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Royal Mail (2 Jun 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I could not agree more. Privatisation would certainly damage front line services, and deliveries would be reduced from six days a week to one or two days a week, especially in rural areas. It was said that Royal Mail had doubled its profits in the past financial year and that the postal service needed modernisation because of the lack of investment over the years. I could not agree more. Tom...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Royal Mail (2 Jun 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I cannot comment on the process, but if another company used it first, they must have creamed off all the profits before Royal Mail received the leaflets. That is my view, but I cannot comment on the matter whatsoever. Mr Ford said that the Post Office’s universal service is the key factor and that it must keep its focus on public ethos. Jim Shannon said that Peter Mandelson’s...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Royal Mail (2 Jun 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I declare an interest as a Royal Mail employee who is on a career break. I thank Members who took part in the debate. One has only to look at the cull of rural post offices that took place in 2008. If the Government push ahead with the privatisation of Royal Mail, it would have a huge effect on rural deliveries. It would not be viable for a private company’s vehicle to drive up a lane...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Environment: Road Safety: Finance (1 Jun 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: Who will do the work of the Road Safety Council now, and how much will that cost?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Economy: Ad Hoc Committee (12 May 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I support amendment No 1. It is difficult to argue against the opening position in the motion with regard to concerns about recent job losses and the need to protect public services. Indeed, my constituency of East Londonderry has been hit as hard as any, given the job losses at Seagate, Spanboard, Eakin Timber and Christies Building Supplies — to mention just a few — and the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Social Housing (21 Apr 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: Does the Member realise that his party has two Ministers on the Executive? What are they doing to uphold what he is saying?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Financial Pressures on Householders (30 Mar 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: At the outset, I thank my party colleagues for bringing the motion to the House and for the opportunity to speak in the debate. As Members are well aware, we live in a challenging time. However, there is no doubt in my mind that we would face even more difficulties had the Minister of Finance and Personnel and the Executive not taken the steps that they have in the Programme for Government....

Northern Ireland Assembly: agriculture and rural development: Farm Modernisation Scheme (30 Mar 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: 1. asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she has any plans to fund all of the applications received under the farm modernisation scheme.  (AQO 2426/09)

Northern Ireland Assembly: agriculture and rural development: Farm Modernisation Scheme (30 Mar 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I thank the Minister for her answer. Does the Minister agree that it would be beneficial to the economy if all the farmers who applied to the scheme were approved and given match funding?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Social Security Offices (9 Mar 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. I endorse this motion along with my colleagues, having given consideration to the public’s opinion and the staff who are affected by the implementation of the review. As can be seen in all the current information that is presented by the Department for Social Development, the review relates to outdated information on unemployment...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Public Expenditure 2008-09 February Monitoring Round (3 Mar 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I thank the Minister for his statement, which referred to an additional £5 million for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Will the Minister explain how that money will benefit Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Education: Autism Northern Ireland (16 Feb 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: 1. asked the Minister of Education what meetings she has had with Autism Northern Ireland in the last year.    (AQO 2046/09)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Education: Autism Northern Ireland (16 Feb 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I thank the Minister for her answer. Will she tell the House whether she has any plans to introduce a joined-up strategy on autism with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Supply Resolution for the 2008-2009  Spring Supplementary Estimates  Supply Resolution for the 2009-2010  Vote on Account (16 Feb 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I thank the Minister for bringing the Supplementary Estimates to the Assembly, and thus providing the opportunity for this debate. We look forward to another financial year with many opportunities, and we realise that some difficult choices will have to be made. However, we must congratulate the Executive on their accomplishments so far this year. We are well aware that the Supplementary...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Strategic Stocktake (27 Jan 2009)

Adrian McQuillan: I welcome the opportunity to speak in this important debate. Every Minister has a very difficult period ahead as a result of the economic downturn, and all Departments will be under pressure. I want to concentrate on the public housing sector. I understand that the Minister for Social Development has a problem in that the income that the Department expected from the sale of property will be...