Gerry Kelly: 1. Mr G Kelly asked the Minister of Health whether there are any specific public health interventions to address the impact of COVID-19 on the most deprived communities. (AQO 1626/17-22)
Gerry Kelly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagra. I thank the Minister for his answer and the detail in it. Minister, the Executive decisions on the introduction of restrictions and any decisions to lift or ease current restrictions must be firmly based on medical and scientific advice and evidence. Has the medical and scientific advice from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the interim Chief...
Gerry Kelly: 1. Mr G Kelly asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has to protect the declining curlew population. (AQO 1540/17-22)
Gerry Kelly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagraí go dtí seo. I thank the Minister for his answers up to now. That was very comprehensive, so he may have answered some of the next questions that I ask. He will be aware, from a report by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, that the curlew population is down 96% and the worry is that it will be extinct within a decade. The Minister went...
Gerry Kelly: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. I think that it is fair to say that everybody in the House has seen the social media footage. I understand that we are dealing with social media, and we cannot make huge decisions on the basis of that. However, we also cannot ignore evidence that we see on it. For a bit of background, last Friday was the twenty-ninth anniversary of the Sean...
Gerry Kelly: I would like some answers and to ensure that the families do not wait a long time for a report on what happened a few days ago.
Gerry Kelly: 2. Mr G Kelly asked the Minister of Finance for an update on the Changing Places facility at the Mo Mowlam play park in the Stormont estate. (AQO 1469/17-22)
Gerry Kelly: While it is good to see this estate leading the way in Changing Places facilities and I am glad to hear that update, I am sure that the Minister will agree that these facilities are needed across the North. Will he update us on his plans to bring forward and include requirements for Changing Places facilities in building regulations?
Gerry Kelly: T8. Mr G Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the deputy First Minister will join him in thanking our healthcare staff for the enormous contribution that they have made in protecting us during the pandemic and to state whether she agrees that the Executive should consider using some of the available COVID funding, as outlined by the Finance Minister, to provide a...
Gerry Kelly: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle, agus gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an ráiteas seo. Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the statement. There is a lot in it to be welcomed. He mentioned investment in social housing: how many homes does he anticipate will be built in the coming year with that funding?
Gerry Kelly: The Minister has dealt with this to a fair extent in some of the other answers, but will she detail the NSMC's role in the withdrawal agreement?
Gerry Kelly: T3. Mr G Kelly asked the Minister of Finance whether public-sector workers here will be affected by the Chancellor’s recent announcement of a pay freeze next year. (AQT 833/17-22)
Gerry Kelly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as as a fhreagra go dtí seo. I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he agree that it is shameful that the Conservative Government are returning to an austerity narrative and seeking to penalise public-sector workers who, along with the front-line workers we were talking about, stepped up to deliver services during the pandemic?
Gerry Kelly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Sóisearach as a fhreagraí go dtí seo. Will the Minister commit to progress the New Decade, New Approach commitment to give legal expression to sectarianism as a hate crime?
Gerry Kelly: 5. Mr G Kelly asked the Minister for Communities when ring-fencing of new-build social housing, as outlined in her statement on housing policy, will come into effect. (AQO 1145/17-22)
Gerry Kelly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a freagra go dtí seo. I thank the Minister for her answers up to now. My supplementary question has, to a great extent, been answered. It was about when we will see the beginning of the changes that were promised in the very welcome statement that she made. The Minister will be aware of damage done to Housing Executive premises in Ardoyne caused by a faulty...
Gerry Kelly: T3. Mr G Kelly asked the Minister of Health if he would expand on the assessment given by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) on 23 September that COVID-19 shielding advice should not change. (AQT 653/17-22)
Gerry Kelly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagra go dtí seo. I thank the Minister for his answer. I apologise. I met Paula Bradshaw, and hopefully I will not repeat her supplementary. Somewhere in the region of 95,000 people got the original shielding letter. Some of them have been in touch with me. There are a huge number of families involved. They are under greater threat. Will the Minister...
Gerry Kelly: T3. Mr G Kelly asked the Minister for Communities, after thanking her for her earlier statement, which pleased almost everybody, and in reference to the fact that, in North Belfast, housing stress is a huge problem, what interventions she will use to reduce the huge numbers in that area. (AQT 613/17-22)
Gerry Kelly: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a freagra go dtí seo. I thank the Minister for her answer so far. She may have answered what I was going to ask, which is this: will the Minister and the Department lead on ring-fencing to meet objective need? I add that the Housing Executive has the power of vesting, which is seldom used. There are times when it needs to be used, especially for land...