Monday, 1 November 2021
The Assembly met at 12 noon (Speaker [Mr Maskey] in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence.
Before we start today's business, I take the opportunity to extend my personal condolences and those of all Members to Peter Weir on the passing of his dear mother in the past number of days. The...
If Members wish to be called to make a statement, they should indicate that by continually rising in their place. Members who are called will have up to three minutes in which to make their...
This past weekend, we heard of a worsening crisis across various health trust areas, with some patients even being cautioned against presenting unless faced with a life-threatening situation. The...
On 2 October 2021, the Saoradh hunger strike commemoration 2021 used the grounds of Bellaghy GAA club. The use of the grounds by Saoradh indicate that the club is aligning itself with the views...
As the COP26 summit gets under way in Glasgow, the challenges facing the North could not be starker. We remain the only part of these islands not to have net zero carbon legislation, and we have...
At 6.30 am today, two armed and masked men hijacked a bus in Newtownards and set it alight. I invite the Chamber to join me in sending a message to the perpetrators: you have no legitimacy and...
I, too, rise to speak about the attack in Mr Nesbitt and my constituency this morning, and I, too, would like to pass on my support to the bus driver who was targeted and, understandably, very...
St Columbanus' College is a secondary school in my constituency. It is 62 years old, it has a population of 810 pupils, and it is growing every year. Well before the summer break, two portable...
I am gravely concerned and disturbed by the reports of drinks spiking in Derry over the last week. A young woman who was socialising in the city was taken to hospital due to her drink being...
I take the opportunity to raise serious concerns about the ongoing pressures in our health service. I do that particularly for patients who are seeking treatment and, indeed, the staff members...
I welcome the opportunity to raise the need for correct and further investment in Irish-medium education in the North. Recently, I was lucky enough to visit Gaelcholáiste Dhoire in Dungiven,...
Yesterday marked the start of the COP26 summit in Glasgow. It also marked the publication of reputable, peer-reviewed research that showed that the level of global warming has risen to...
I am also grateful for the opportunity to make a statement at the commencement of COP26 in Glasgow. The climate crisis is no longer a looming threat; it is here and it is happening now. Further...
My local newspapers recently carried stories about large potholes, most notably outside Magheraveely in rural Fermanagh. There was a front-page story that showed a man who was able to crouch down...
At the outset, I want to address the allegations made by Mr Buchanan against Bellaghy Wolfe Tones GAC in his Member's statement. On 9 September, Bellaghy Wolfe Tones released a statement in which...
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak. I, too, will talk about waiting lists. I am sure that many MLAs will agree that their in tray is filling up with correspondence from quite a...
Mr Justin McNulty has sought leave to present a public petition in accordance with Standing Order 22. The Member will have up to three minutes in which to speak.
As with similar motions, this will be treated as a business motion, and there will be no debate. Resolved: That Mrs Deborah Erskine replace Mr Jonathan Buckley as a member of the Committee for...
As with similar motions, this will be treated as a business motion, and there will be no debate. Resolved: That Ms Aisling Reilly be appointed as a member of the Committee for Communities....
I have received notice from the Minister of Finance that he wishes to make a statement. Before I call the Minister, I remind Members that, in light of the social distancing being observed by...
Order, Members. The Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has not joined us. As such, I will move on to the next item of business. We will suspend for five minutes in the...
I beg to move That this Assembly endorses the extension to Northern Ireland of provisions to implement the remedy solution for age discrimination in public service pension schemes, and associated...
Questions 6 and 10 have been withdrawn.
1. Mrs Erskine asked the Minister for Communities for an update on the benefits of the Job Start scheme in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. (AQO 2622/17-22)
2. Mr McHugh asked the Minister for Communities for an update on the level of Executive support that has been allocated to assist the culture, languages, arts and heritage sectors during the...
3. Mr Muir asked the Minister for Communities what plans her Department has to support the establishment of new parkrun events. (AQO 2624/17-22)
4. Mrs Barton asked the Minister for Communities what support will be available to lower carbon emissions and promote greener energy in social housing new builds. (AQO 2625/17-22)
5. Mr McGlone asked the Minister for Communities what action she has taken to increase the provision of bungalows for social housing. (AQO 2626/17-22)
T1. Mr Catney asked the Minister for Communities for her assessment of the Minister of Finance’s refusal to fund her bid for the universal credit uplift. (AQT 1711/17-22)
T2. Mr Blair asked the Minister for Communities, given recent events and publicity, what action her Department is taking to ensure that the morale and confidence of staff, councillors and,...
T3. Mr Lyttle asked the Minister for Communities for an update on the sport and physical activity strategy. (AQT 1713/17-22)
T4. Mr Lunn asked the Minister for Communities for an update on the steps that she has taken in the renewal of welfare mitigations legislation. (AQT 1714/17-22)
T5. Mr O'Dowd asked the Minister for Communities, in response to Mr Lunn’s question, to state whether the DUP has given her its rationale as to why it is not allowing such an important...
Questions 7 and 10 have been withdrawn. Topical questions 3, 7 and 9 have been withdrawn.
1. Mr Beggs asked the Minister for Infrastructure why temporary exemption certificates were not used during August and September to ease pressure on drivers and Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA)...
2. Mr Clarke asked the Minister for Infrastructure how her Department plans to address the current shortage of HGV drivers. (AQO 2637/17-22)
3. Mr McCrossan asked the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on infrastructure investment in West Tyrone. (AQO 2638/17-22)
4. Ms Dolan asked the Minister for Infrastructure what engagement she has had with local authorities regarding the planning advice note (PAN) on the implementation of strategic planning policy on...
5. Mrs Barton asked the Minister for Infrastructure what additional resources she will allocate for the adoption of private streets in developments that have been built at least 15 years. (AQO...
T1. Mrs Dodds asked the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the action that she has taken on a safety scheme for the A1, given that she is very aware of the need to enhance the safety...
T2. Ms Ennis asked the Minister for Infrastructure whether she will consider introducing additional support for the bus and coach sector, given that she will be well aware that that sector has...
T4. Miss Woods asked the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the formal request that she made to the Planning Appeals Commission to hold a public inquiry into the Dalradian gold mine...
T5. Mr Buckley asked the Minister for Infrastructure, who will be aware that although he wrote to her on 25 October about the potential ramifications of the judgement in the North/South...
T6. Ms Dillon asked the Minister for Infrastructure to advise what is being done to address the road resurfacing backlog, given there have been serious delays to road resurfacing in four council...
T8. Ms McLaughlin asked the Minister for Infrastructure, given the spin and politicking from Sinn Féin earlier today, to outline the truth of her position on the October monitoring round....
Debate resumed on motion: That this Assembly endorses the extension to Northern Ireland of provisions to implement the remedy solution for age discrimination in public service pension schemes,...
I beg to move That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 28 January 2022, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Climate...
I beg to move That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 21 January 2022, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Organ and...
I beg to move That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 14 January 2022, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Autism...
I beg to move That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 28 January 2022, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Small-Scale...
I beg to move That this Assembly believes investing in the skills and talent of our workforce is integral to the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; stresses the need to better equip...
The current Northern Ireland Assembly was established in 1998 as part of the Belfast Agreement.
As of 2023, the Assembly has sitting MLAs, but has been unable to reach the cross-community agreement required to elect a speaker. As such, there will be no debates in the Assembly until a speaker is elected.
