Edwin Poots: Does the Minister’s Department recognise the scale of dereliction in Dromore? Will the Minister visit the town to see the dereliction? Can his Department provide financial assistance to the Dromore area, in conjunction with the International Fund for Ireland and the heritage lottery fund, to ensure that the schemes that are being processed by the Dromore regeneration group come to fruition?
Edwin Poots: 9. asked the Minister for Employment and Learning when she intends to visit the vocational learning unit at The Beeches, Aghalee. (AQO 227/02)
Edwin Poots: I thank the Minister for confirming her visit. I had written to her earlier in the year, and she said that she intended to come in the autumn. However, she needs to bring more than herself; she needs to bring some assurances about the European funding that was withdrawn. The Down Lisburn Trust is sustaining the unit, but that cannot continue indefinitely. Her Department has a role to play in...
Edwin Poots: 5. asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans he has to provide greater support for tourism projects in the Lagan Valley constituency. (AQO 228/02)
Edwin Poots: Officials from Lisburn City Council recently met the Minister and outlined the funding that the area has received from the Tourist Board in the past few years. I assume that the Minister agrees that that funding is minuscule. When will the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Tourist Board realise that there are areas between Belfast and the north coast, and between Belfast...
Edwin Poots: I beg to move That, in accordance with Standing Order 31(5), the period referred to in Standing Order 31(3) be extended to 22 November 2002, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill (NIA 20/01). The Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill, which passed its Second Stage in July 2002, stands referred to the Committee of the Centre. The...
Edwin Poots: 4. asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what progress has been made in achieving wet weather payments for farmers. (AQO 163/02)
Edwin Poots: The growing season is coming to an end, the cereal harvest is almost finished, and most farmers say that their cereal crops have been significantly reduced. The potato harvest is about to commence with low expectations from potato farmers. Will the Minister assure the House that as soon as the crops have been harvested, her Department will seek financial assistance for the farming community?...
Edwin Poots: 2. asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to provide an update on progress towards providing a new public library in Lisburn. (AQO 160/02)
Edwin Poots: Although I am pleased to hear that progress is being made on the Lisburn library, we have been waiting for some 25 years for a library in the area that suits the city of Lisburn. Can the Minister give us more concrete information about when a decision will be made to offer the contract to the company involved? When will work start on the new library?
Edwin Poots: 9. asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister what discussions it has had with the Chairman of the Policing Board. (AQO 159/02)
Edwin Poots: The First Minister made a very convincing argument for placing the police college at the Maze site. It is strategically placed, in a central location, and there is an abundance of land. Those are all good reasons to support locating a police college there. Is Mr Trimble saying that he is opposed to setting up a police college on a central site? People want more police officers on the streets,...
Edwin Poots: 4. asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what consultation has taken place with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on wet weather payments for farmers. (AQO 99/02)
Edwin Poots: I am surprised that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development raised the issue only last week; perhaps she did so because she knew that there would be a question to be answered this week. Is the Minister of Finance and Personnel aware of the severe problems that farmers have faced, and still face, as a result of the wet weather earlier this year? Does he realise that harvests are...
Edwin Poots: This is an obnoxious motion put forward by IRA/Sinn Féin. It states that it expresses "sympathy to all those who have been the victims of sectarian murder, violence and intimidation in recent times". That is disgraceful. It is saying that only those who have been murdered and terrorised in recent times should receive sympathy, and should receive it from this source. Sinn Féin wants to...
Edwin Poots: 2. asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any forward plans for capital development of the sewerage infrastructure in the Lagan Valley constituency for each of the next four years. (AQO 36/02)
Edwin Poots: The basis for my question was the announcement by the Minister of the Environment of a moratorium on development that has not received outline permission. Will the Minister for Regional Development assure us that the matter will be addressed, and that urgently needed development will not be hindered as a result of the Minister of the Environment’s statement on the Environment and Heritage...
Edwin Poots: 4. asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister what discussions have taken place with the Ministry of Defence regarding the removal of contaminated materials from the Maze site. (AQO 35/02)
Edwin Poots: I thank the Deputy First Minister for his response. Will he further ascertain whether other contamination has taken place? I have heard allegations that toxic materials were disposed of at the Maze site during the 1970s. I have also been informed that asbestos may have been dumped there. It would be difficult to develop the site unless some form of decontamination took place. I ask that it be...
Edwin Poots: I have listened with interest to the speeches and comments that have been made. I welcome the Bill. The Committee of the Centre will scrutinise it closely. The Committee may make amendments to the Bill once it has heard others’ opinions, and I guarantee that there will be full consultation. I assure those Members who have raised concerns that the Committee will take their views on board and...