Claire Hanna: Thank you, Mr Speaker. What are the Minister's thoughts on the glass bottle deposit return scheme being trialled in Scotland, and has he any plans to introduce a similar pilot here?
Claire Hanna: Childcare and its impact on social and economic well-being, gender equality and childhood development is exactly the sort of thing that the Assembly should be discussing, and I will come back to that in a moment. This is my maiden speech, and, last week, I thought that I might not be making it. However, as a member of the SDLP for 15 years and a mum of two young children, I thought that the...
Claire Hanna: — our economy and empower the young families who are its future. Childcare is a sound financial investment, and, if we fund it, we will see benefits for years to come.
Claire Hanna: I also welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on such an important issue. I rise in support of the amendment and the substantive motion. It is unacceptable that 373,000 people are waiting for a first outpatient appointment, a diagnostic test or an inpatient treatment at some of Northern Ireland's hospitals. My colleague has outlined that that includes over 212,000 patients who...
Claire Hanna: Can the Minister outline what steps have been taken to promote uptake and ensure that all children who are eligible are accessing and availing themselves of a nutritious school meal?
Claire Hanna: 4. Ms Hanna asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how much is owed to community and voluntary sector groups from previous European social fund programmes. (AQO 8648/11-16)
Claire Hanna: Does the Minister agree that the delays may have acted as a deterrent for future rounds, particularly to grass-roots organisations? Can you outline the steps that will be taken to minimise disruption and for repayment in future?
Claire Hanna: I commend the Members for tabling the motion. It is vital that the Assembly continues to give voice to the solidarity, the very clear solidarity, of people here with the millions who are fleeing conflict in Syria and elsewhere. It is also appropriate that we look at the practical support that we can offer. Members have outlined some of the context of the crisis that has seen several hundred...
Claire Hanna: Mr Speaker, an open humanitarian response to the crisis is our moral obligation, and it is the will of the people here. We support the motion.
Claire Hanna: T7. Ms Hanna asked the Minister of the Environment what is being done about summer bonfire sites, given that he will be aware of the issues with unregulated summer bonfires, the attachment that people have to them and the risk to property and community relations, particularly from those bonfires that are not part of any management programme. (AQT 2857/11-16)
Claire Hanna: Does the Minister agree that the flags protocol has been largely abandoned in some places, with flags proliferating, including paramilitary flags, especially on arterial routes in very integrated areas of south Belfast? Does he agree that the rule of law should prevail and that those flags should be removed?
Claire Hanna: I also welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion, and I commend my colleague Dominic Bradley, in particular, for his efforts, through the all-party group on autism and outside it, in promoting awareness of this topic. The fruit of his labour was the Autism Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, which came through the Assembly and brought together all of the most progressive elements of...
Claire Hanna: I thank the Minister for his answers. You have suggested that the current model is unsustainable. Has the Department identified the tipping point after which it thinks the model will be financially unworkable? At this stage, do you envisage a change in the number of Colleges NI campuses?
Claire Hanna: The Minister is aware of the predicament of many householders, particularly in my constituency of South Belfast, who live under constant threat of flooding. Can she give an update on the household protection scheme, and give some assurance to people that they might still be eligible for that scheme, even if an alleviation scheme is planned for their area? In many cases, alleviation schemes...
Claire Hanna: 5. Ms Hanna asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, of the documents requested by the Committee for Finance and Personnel in relation to the sale of the National Assets Management Agency's local portfolio, how many have not been provided. (AQO 8871/11-16)
Claire Hanna: Can the Minister advise what documents, if any, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has requested from her Department?
Claire Hanna: Can the Minister provide the House with an update on progress on the implementation of shared neighbourhood projects, following the success of the Ballynafeigh development in south Belfast?
Claire Hanna: I support the motion and those who will be most affected by the outcome. Like many people, I watched the referendum in the South just before the summer. I actually campaigned in it, and, I have to say, as someone who has been involved in elections for going on for 15 years, that I do not remember one being as life-affirming and positive since the referendum that we had here in 1998. It was...
Claire Hanna: I think that it is. Polling shows that over two thirds of people support marriage equality, with a smaller number who have not made up their mind but are not opposed yet. The separate but equal argument is that people should be happy with civil partnership. I ask Members who are married whether they would be happy to downgrade their marriage to a civil partnership if they think that it is...
Claire Hanna: Yes, I will.