Mervyn Storey: [Inaudible.]
Mervyn Storey: Will the Member give way?
Mervyn Storey: I have listened to the Member and obviously she has raised a valid issue about insulation. Maybe she should have a word with her colleagues and ask them why, over the past number of years, her party has persistently resisted any changes to the Housing Executive. We are waiting on this new dawn for the Housing Executive from the current Minister, but that was denied by previous Sinn Féin...
Mervyn Storey: No change then.
Mervyn Storey: Minister, it is a pity that, when I was Minister in 2014 and 2015, your party did not have the same attitude to prioritising housing. Your party resisted changes to the financial arrangements that would have unlocked billions of pounds to invest in housing. Where did the Damascus road experience take place? Was it in Connolly House? Is it because there is an election pending and you now have...
Mervyn Storey: Will the Minister give way?
Mervyn Storey: I thank the Member for giving way. I understand the reason why the Minister did not give way. However, thankfully, she gave us a window of opportunity, when she said that she would consider any evidence. It is not enough for PONI to determine that it adequately responded to the concerns that were raised by a court judgement. Surely, it should be in the hands of someone else to adjudicate and...
Mervyn Storey: Will the Member give way?
Mervyn Storey: Will the Member give way?
Mervyn Storey: Will the Member give way?
Mervyn Storey: I thank the Member for raising the issue of the Omagh bomb. I remind the House that, as a result of the investigation of the Omagh bombing, one of the previous incumbents in that office had to issue an apology to three members of the RUC because of a complaint that was upheld in relation to what was included in that report. If we are going to talk about fairness, equity and impartiality, we...
Mervyn Storey: Will the Member give way?
Mervyn Storey: On public surveys, will he also include some of the legal profession who have said that there are issues when you consider the number of reports that had to be amended or withdrawn, the catalogue of failed prosecutions initiated by the office and the many adverse comments by the judiciary concerning the poor quality of investigations? Maybe that would also give balance, fairness and...
Mervyn Storey: I beg to move That this Assembly recognises the need for an effective, efficient and independent structure for dealing with complaints against police officers; believes the current operation of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) falls well below the reasonable expectations of complainants, serving and retired police officers, as well as the wider public; expresses deep concern...
Mervyn Storey: Thank you, Mr Speaker. The DUP welcomes the opportunity to bring forward the motion as the issues that it raises are far-reaching and critical to increasing public confidence in the criminal justice system. We want to make it clear from the outset that the debate is not about calling into question the need for impartial, effective and robust structures for investigating alleged police...
Mervyn Storey: T7. Mr Storey asked the Minister of Education, after her time in his constituency a few weeks ago, for which he thanked her, to visit a number of schools, including Ballycastle High School, that are getting new builds and to see at first hand the plans, whether she is content, albeit there are some concerns about the procurement process, that sufficient progress is being made and that the...
Mervyn Storey: 13. Mr Storey asked the Minister for the Economy for an update on the delivery of the economic recovery action plan. (AQO 2577/17-22)
Mervyn Storey: I thank the Minister for his answers thus far and for the work that he has done to ensure that the issues of concern to us all in our constituencies, particularly in terms of economic recovery, are addressed. In an earlier comment, he mentioned the changing environment. Obviously, we are subject to the current crisis in fuel prices and so on, as we have heard about. What flexibility is there...
Mervyn Storey: I thank Philip McGuigan for securing this evening's Adjournment debate. I concur with him and extend our congratulations to those whom he mentioned at the commencement of his contribution. I also thank him for a very comprehensive overview of many of the opportunities and challenges that we face. The Minister will not be surprised to hear, however, that this is the only occasion on which I...
Mervyn Storey: — to the well-being of our citizens in North Antrim.