Monday, 3 February 2020
The Assembly met at 12 noon (Speaker [Mr Maskey] in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence.
I wish to make an announcement about private Members' Bills (PMBs). Members will be aware that the current focus of our business is on providing time for Committees to conduct the vital scrutiny...
I have received a request, which has been granted, to allow a Matter of the Day on European Union withdrawal. Mr John O'Dowd has made a request to make a statement under Standing Order 24 on...
I beg to move That this Assembly, in accordance with paragraph 12(2) of schedule 1 to the Public Services Ombudsman Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, nominates Paul McFadden for appointment as the...
I beg to introduce the Functioning of Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill [NIA 01/17-22], which is a Bill to amend sections 7 and 8 of the Civil Service (Special Advisers) Act (Northern...
I call Mrs Pam Cameron to move the motion.
1. Mrs Barton asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline any discussions they have had with the Department for Exiting the European Union regarding the movement of goods from...
2. Ms Dillon asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when compensation payments for victims of historical institutional abuse will be made. (AQO 2/17-22)
3. Mr G Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how they plan to coordinate the implementation of New Decade, New Approach. (AQO 3/17-22)
4. Dr Archibald asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the terms of reference and membership of the Executive subcommittee on Brexit. (AQO 4/17-22)
5. Miss McIlveen asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the progress of a regional trauma network for victims and survivors of the Troubles. (AQO 5/17-22)
6. Mr Middleton asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline their Department's role in the new working group on mental well-being and resilience. (AQO 6/17-22)
T1. Mr McHugh asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what measures they will put in place to ensure that our society is welcoming and accommodating to ethnic minorities and new...
T2. Mrs Barton asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the Executive Office is fully in support of all aspects of the New Decade, New Approach deal, including the Irish...
T3. Ms McLaughlin asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the small size of the university sector and the shortage of graduates in our labour market and how challenging that is...
T4. Mr O'Dowd asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister about the role of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in facing up to the challenges presented by Brexit and whether, if...
T5. Mr Lunn asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they are satisfied that there will be sufficient budget provision on an ongoing basis to cover pensions for victims and...
T6. Mr Butler asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in line with their commitment to mental health and well-being, including their response to the call for a junior Minister for...
T8. Mr Clarke asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the Secretary of State’s announcement at the weekend, when the first payments will reach the victims and survivors of...
1. Ms Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what assurances he can provide farmers that their businesses will not be negatively impacted by the...
3. Ms C Kelly asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the granting of de minimis aid for farmers affected by flooding in the Sperrins in 2017. (AQO 17/17-22)
4. Ms S Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline his plans to speak to Executive colleagues and his counterparts in the Republic of Ireland and the...
5. Mr Allister asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how many people have been convicted of illegal waste disposal offences in the last five years and how many of those...
6. Mr Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he will review the process for allocating identification numbers to farm businesses. (AQO 20/17-22)
T1. Ms Ennis asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he is aware of the funding difficulties facing Down Royal park, given that he will be aware that Down Royal...
T2. Ms C Kelly asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline the steps his Department is taking to address falling farm income, which fell by a staggering 25%...
T3. Mr Muir asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs when he envisages the establishment of an independent environmental protection agency, in light of the commitment...
T4. Mr Carroll asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he has any plans to tackle the growing threat of air pollution, given the clear evidence that it is at...
Again, it is a North Belfast question.
T6. Mr Nesbitt asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, given the fact that the local fishing fleet is so dependent on foreign national workers, for his assessment of the...
T7. Mr Blair asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what action he is taking to increase woodland across Northern Ireland, which stands at around 8% and is the lowest in...
1. Mr Beattie asked the Minister for Communities to outline her Department's responsibilities and legal standing in the protection of historical sites. (AQO 28/17-22)
2. Ms Bunting asked the Minister for Communities to outline the average waiting time for an initial universal credit payment. (AQO 29/17-22)
3. Dr Archibald asked the Minister for Communities whether social clauses will be included in all capital contracts to ensure social value for the beneficiaries of departmental investment. (AQO...
4. Miss McIlveen asked the Minister for Communities for her assessment of the impact of restricted opening hours, as a result of budgetary constraints, on the delivery of library services. (AQO...
5. Ms Flynn asked the Minister for Communities for an update on welfare reform mitigations. (AQO 32/17-22)
T1. Mr Buckley asked the Minister for Communities to explain why one of the first decisions she took upon becoming a Minister was to do away with the long-standing custom and practice of...
T2. Ms Ní Chuilín asked the Minister for Communities a similar question, with her indulgence, given that she outlined her rationale and reasoning for stopping the publication of the...
T3. Mr Middleton asked the Minister for Communities, after welcoming the use of the sign language interpreter in the Chamber, for an update on plans to introduce a sign language Bill. (AQT 23/17-22)
T4. Mr McCann asked the Minister for Communities whether her Department is working to ensure that the neighbourhood renewal budget for the community and voluntary sector will be in place for this...
T6. Ms Ennis asked the Minister for Communities, on behalf of the 250,000 GAA members in Ulster, whether her Department intends to work with the BBC, the GAA and other stakeholders to tackle the...
T7. Ms C Kelly asked the Minister for Communities to ensure that the housing waiting list and housing stress for Omagh has a town and rural dimension to ensure that rural dwellers are not...
T9. Mrs Cameron asked the Minister for Communities whether she plans to review emergency housing stock. (AQT 29/17-22)
On a personal level, I welcome the Minister back to the Chamber.
1. Mr O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Economy to outline her approach to renewable heat in light of the commitment in New Decade, New Approach to close the renewable heating incentive scheme...
2. Miss Sheerin asked the Minister for the Economy, following the withdrawal from the European Union, whether she will clarify the position of those businesses locally engaging in import and...
3. Ms Bunting asked the Minister for the Economy whether she will engage with the hospitality sector on the impact of Reval2020, the revaluation of business rates. (AQO 44/17-22)
4. Mr Boylan asked the Minister for the Economy to outline a time frame to ban zero-hour contracts, as set out in New Decade, New Approach. (AQO 45/17-22)
T1. Miss Sheerin asked the Minister for the Economy whether her Department will provide financial assistance to firms that find that they need massive adaptations to their business model to...
T2. Mr Robinson asked the Minister for the Economy, after congratulating her on her appointment, whether parental bereavement leave is to be introduced in Northern Ireland. (AQT 32/17-22)
T3. Mr Blair asked the Minister for the Economy what action she intends to take to ensure that, as referenced at annexe 4 of the New Decade, New Approach agreement, there will be an economic...
T4. Mr Irwin asked the Minister for the Economy, after congratulating her on her new post and her first Question Time, for an update on the progress towards the opening of the new SRC Armagh...
T5. Mr Humphrey asked the Minister for the Economy, after congratulating her on her post and welcoming her to the Dispatch Box, for her view on traineeship and skills for life and work. (AQT 35/17-22)
Debate resumed on amendments to motion: That this Assembly recognises the specific needs of pupils with autism in our schools; values and supports the role of all educators in ensuring pupils...
I have received notification from Mrs Dolores Kelly, a member of the Business Committee, of a motion to extend the sitting past 7.00 pm, in case the next item goes beyond that, under Standing...
I call Dr Caoimhe Archibald to move the motion.